Role of a ubiquitin-like modification in polarized morphogenesis

Type I ubiquitin-like proteins constitute a family of protein modifiers. Here we report the identification of a posttranslational protein modifier from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hub1. Overexpression of Hub1 resulted in enhanced conjugate formation when its carboxyl-terminal residue was deleted, suggesting that mature Hub1 may be produced by proteolytic processing. In vivo targets of Hub1 conjugation included cell polarity factors Sph1 and Hbt1. In the hub1Δ mutant, the subcellular localization of both Hbt1 and Sph1 was disrupted, and cell polarization during the formation of mating projections was defective. Consistent with these polarization defects, the hub1Δ mutant was deficient in mating.