CDC42 — Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c

Summary

YLR229C (Cdc42) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c encodes a small GTPase of the Rho family that exhibits GTP and GDP binding, GTPase activity, protein serine/threonine kinase activator activity, protein kinase binding, and signaling adaptor activity. This gene is associated with numerous cellular processes including cell polarization, morphogenesis, exocytosis, vesicle targeting and docking, cell-cell junction assembly, TORC1 signaling, syngamy, and response to sorbitol. It localizes to the hyphal tip polarisome, exocytic vesicles, the Cdc42 GTPase complex, cleavage furrow, septin ring, and internal side of the plasma membrane. Phenotypic associations link YLR229C to abnormal filamentous and invasive growth, budding patterns, cell cycle progression (including G1 arrest), decreased mating efficiency and cell fusion, increased cold sensitivity and cell size, decreased osmotic stress resistance, and abnormal actin cytoskeleton and endomembrane system morphology. The gene is also associated with oxidative stress. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to turgor pressure and loss of pathogenicity.