Functional analysis of Kluyveromyces lactis carboxylic acids permeases: heterologous expression of KlJEN1 and KlJEN2 genes.

Odília Queirós, Leonor Pereira, Sandra Paiva, Pedro Moradas-Ferreira, Margarida Casal

Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde-Norte (ISCSN), Rua Central da Gandra 1317 4585-116 Gandra, Paredes, Portugal.

Current genetics 2007 Mar

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The present work describes a detailed physiological and molecular characterization of the mechanisms of transport of carboxylic acids in Kluyveromyces lactis. This yeast species presents two homologue genes to JEN1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: KlJEN1 encodes a monocarboxylate permease and KlJEN2 encodes a dicarboxylic acid permease. In the strain K. lactis GG1888, expression of these genes does not require an inducer and activity for both transport systems was observed in glucose-grown cells. To confirm their key role for carboxylic acids transport in K. lactis, null mutants were analyzed. Heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae has been performed and chimeric fusions with GFP showed their proper localization in the plasma membrane. S. cerevisiae jen1delta cells transformed with KlJEN1 recovered the capacity to use lactic acid, as well as to transport labeled lactic acid by a mediated mechanism. When KlJEN2 was heterologously expressed, S. cerevisiae transformants gained the ability to transport labeled succinic and malic acids by a mediated mechanism, exhibiting, however, a poor growth in malic acid containing media. The results confirmed the role of KlJen1p and KlJen2p as mono and dicarboxylic acids permeases, respectively, not subjected to glucose repression, being fully functional in S. cerevisiae.

Citation

Odília Queirós, Leonor Pereira, Sandra Paiva, Pedro Moradas-Ferreira, Margarida Casal. Functional analysis of Kluyveromyces lactis carboxylic acids permeases: heterologous expression of KlJEN1 and KlJEN2 genes. Current genetics. 2007 Mar;51(3):161-9