Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Edificio Departamental, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
Biochem J. 2010 Feb 24;426(3):243-53. doi: 10.1042/BJ20091823.
Eukaryotic cells display a wide range of morphologies important for cellular function and development. A particular cell shape is made via the generation of asymmetry in the organization of cytoskeletal elements, usually leading to actin localization at sites of growth. The Rho family of GTPases is present in all eukaryotic cells, from yeast to mammals, and their role as key regulators in the signalling pathways that control actin organization and morphogenetic processes is well known. In the present review we will discuss the role of Rho GTPases as regulators of yeasts' polarized growth, their mechanism of activation and signalling pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. These two model yeasts have been very useful in the study of the molecular mechanisms responsible for cell polarity. As in other organisms with cell walls, yeast's polarized growth is closely related to cell-wall biosynthesis, and Rho GTPases are critical modulators of this process. They provide the co-ordinated regulation of cell-wall biosynthetic enzymes and actin organization required to maintain cell integrity during vegetative growth.
真核细胞表现出多种对细胞功能和发育很重要的形态。细胞形状的特定变化是通过细胞骨架成分组织的不对称产生的，通常导致肌动蛋白定位于生长部位。Rho 家族 GTP 酶存在于从酵母到哺乳动物的所有真核细胞中，它们作为控制肌动蛋白组织和形态发生过程的信号通路的关键调节剂的作用是众所周知的。在本综述中，我们将讨论 Rho GTP 酶作为酵母极性生长调节剂的作用、它们在酿酒酵母和裂殖酵母中的激活机制和信号通路。这两种模式酵母在研究负责细胞极性的分子机制方面非常有用。与具有细胞壁的其他生物一样，酵母的极性生长与细胞壁生物合成密切相关，而 Rho GTP 酶是这一过程的关键调节剂。它们为维持营养生长过程中细胞完整性所需的细胞壁生物合成酶和肌动蛋白组织的协调调节提供了条件。
