Early protection to stress mediated by CDK-dependent PI3,5P(2) signaling from the vacuole/lysosome

Adaptation to environmental stress is critical for cell survival. Adaptation generally occurs via changes in transcription and translation. However, there is a time lag before changes in gene expression, which suggests that more rapid mechanisms likely exist. In this study, we show that in yeast, the cyclin-dependent kinase Pho85/CDK5 provides protection against hyperosmotic stress and acts before long-term adaptation provided by Hog1. This protection requires the vacuolar/endolysosomal signaling lipid PI3,5P(2). We show that Pho85/CDK5 directly phosphorylates and positively regulates the PI3P-5 kinase Fab1/PIKfyve complex and provide evidence that this regulation is conserved in mammalian cells. Moreover, this regulation is particularly crucial in yeast for the stress-induced transient elevation of PI3,5P(2). Our study reveals a rapid protection mechanism regulated by Pho85/CDK5 via signaling from the vacuole/lysosome, which is distinct temporally and spatially from the previously discovered long-term adaptation Hog1 pathway, which signals from the nucleus.