Regulation of organelle membrane fusion by Pkc1p

Membrane fusion relies on complex protein machineries, which act in sequenc e to catalyze the fusion of bilayers. The fusion of endoplasmic reticulum m embranes requires the t-SNARE Ufe1p, and the AAA ATPase p97/Cdc48p. While t he mechanisms of membrane fusion events have begun to emerge, little is kno wn about how this fusion process is regulated. We provide first evidence th at endoplasmic reticulum membrane fusion in yeast is regulated by the actio n of protein kinase G. Specifically, Pkc1p kinase activity is needed to pro tect the fusion machinery from ubiquitin-mediated degradation.