Phosphatidic acid is a pH biosensor that links membrane biogenesis to metabolism

Barry P. Young, John J.H. Shin, Rick Orij, Jesse T. Chao, Shu Chen Li, Xue Li Guan, Anthony Khong, Eric Jan, Markus R. Wenk, William A. Prinz, Gertien J. Smits, Christopher J.R. Loewen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

200 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recognition of lipids by proteins is important for their targeting and activation in many signaling pathways, but the mechanisms that regulate such interactions are largely unknown. Here, we found that binding of proteins to the ubiquitous signaling lipid phosphatidic acid (PA) depended on intracellular pH and the protonation state of its phosphate headgroup. In yeast, a rapid decrease in intracellular pH in response to glucose starvation regulated binding of PA to a transcription factor, Opi1, that coordinately repressed phospholipid metabolic genes. This enabled coupling of membrane biogenesis to nutrient availability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1085-1088
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume329
Issue number5995
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 27 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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