Waves of regulated protein expression and phosphorylation rewire the proteome to drive gametogenesis in budding yeast

Abstract

Sexually reproducing eukaryotes employ a developmentally regulated cell division program-meiosis-to generate haploid gametes from diploid germ cells. To understand how gametes arise, we generated a proteomic census encompassing the entire meiotic program of budding yeast. We found that concerted waves of protein expression and phosphorylation modify nearly all cellular pathways to support meiotic entry, meiotic progression, and gamete morphogenesis. Leveraging this comprehensive resource, we pinpointed dynamic changes in mitochondrial components and showed that phosphorylation of the F_oF₁-ATP synthase complex is required for efficient gametogenesis. Furthermore, using cryoET as an orthogonal approach to visualize mitochondria, we uncovered highly ordered filament arrays of Ald4^ALDH2, a conserved aldehyde dehydrogenase that is highly expressed and phosphorylated during meiosis. Notably, phosphorylation-resistant mutants failed to accumulate filaments, suggesting that phosphorylation regulates context-specific Ald4^ALDH2 polymerization. Overall, this proteomic census constitutes a broad resource to guide the exploration of the unique sequence of events underpinning gametogenesis.