Stress-induced cell depolarization through the MAP kinase-Cdc42 axis

Salat Canela, Clàudia, 1989-; Pérez, Pilar; Ayté del Olmo, José; Hidalgo Hernando, Elena

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2022.06.004

Stress-induced cell depolarization through the MAP kinase-Cdc42 axis

Citation

Salat-Canela C, Pérez P, Ayté J, Hidalgo E. Stress-induced cell depolarization through the MAP kinase-Cdc42 axis. Trends Cell Biol. 2023 Feb;33(2):124-37. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.06.004

Abstract

General stress responses, which sense environmental or endogenous signals, aim at promoting cell survival and fitness during adverse conditions. In eukaryotes, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-driven cascades trigger a shift in the cell's gene expression program as a cellular adaptation to stress. Here, we review another aspect of activated MAP kinase cascades reported in fission yeast: the transient inhibition of cell polarity in response to oxidative stress. The phosphorylation by a stress-activated MAP kinase of regulators of the GTPase cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) causes a transient inhibition of polarized cell growth. The formation of growth sites depends on limiting and essential polarity components. We summarize here some processes in which inhibition of Cdc42 may be a general mechanism to regulate polarized growth also under physiological conditions.