Analysis of the H+/sugar symport in yeast under conditions of depolarized plasma membrane

Glucose causes primary necrosis in exponentially grown yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this paper, we present data on sugar-induced cell death (SICD) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the exponential phase of growth. We suggest that the nature of SICD in exponentially grown yeast is primary necrosis, in contrast to cells in the stationary growth phase, which exhibit apoptotic SICD. The following findings confirm this conclusion: (i) the process rate; (ii) the impairments of plasma membrane integrity; (iii) the drastic morphological changes in the intracellular content; (iv) the absence of chromatin condensation; (v) the absence of externalization of phosphotidylserine (PS) on the outer leaflet of plasma membrane and (vi) the insensitivity of the SICD process to cycloheximide (CHX). Research shows that SICD occurs in a subpopulation of cells in the S-phase.

Properties and heterologous expression of the glucose transporter GHT1 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Genomic DNA of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe glucose transporter, GHT1, was obtained by complementation of the glucose transport deficient Sz. pombe strain YGS-5. Here we describe the GHT1 gene that encodes a protein of 565 amino acids with a corresponding molecular mass of 62.5 kDa. This eukaryotic glucose transporter contains 12 putative transmembrane segments and is homologous to the HXT multigene family of S. cerevisiae with several amino acid motifs of this sugar transporter family. It is also homologous to other sugar carriers from human, mouse and Escherichia coli. The function of the Ght1 protein as a glucose transporter was proved both by homologous and heterologous expression in the Sz. pombe mutant YGS-5 and in the S. cerevisiae hxt mutant RE700A, respectively. Both transformed yeast strains transported D-glucose with substrate specificity similar to that in Sz. pombe wild-type cells. Moreover, the cells of the two transformed yeast strains accumulated 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a non-metabolizable D-glucose analogue, with an efficiency similar to Sz. pombe wild-type cells. The ability of the S. cerevisiae mutant RE700A to accumulate 2DG in an delta mu H+ dependent manner after transformation with GHT1 provides evidence that the Sz. pombe transporter catalyses an energy-dependent uptake of glucose.

Membrane potential manipulation in synaptic plasma membrane vesicles for studying neurotransmitter uptake and release

Synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) vesicles represent a membrane fraction very useful in studying non-vesicular neurotransmitter release. The procedure described here to isolate SPM vesicles from a crude synaptosomal fraction of sheep brain cortex is quick, simple (ultracentrifugation in a discontinuous density gradient of dextran T110), and combines a high yield (130 micrograms/g brain) with a satisfactory grade of purification. The preparation of SPM vesicles consists of vesicles (approximately 0.54 +/- 0.8 micron diameter) delimited by a single membrane with the native orientation. We are able to ascertain these characteristics on the basis of morphology studies (electron microscopy observations), enzyme activities (Na+/K(+)-ATPase, Ca2+/Mg(2+)-ATPase, acetylcholinesterase and glucose-6-phosphatase), biochemical composition (lipid and protein analysis) and the tetrodotoxin sensitivity of the veratridine-induced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release. Isolating the SPM vesicles by the proposed procedure permits manipulating the ionic gradients across the membrane by changing the ion concentrations on either side or by utilizing specific ionophores. The vesicles retain their various activities, including their capacity for neurotransmitter uptake and release assays for at least 3 months, when preserved at -70 degrees C. Furthermore, the vesicles permit depicting the electrochemical gradients across the membranes into chemical and electrical components. We describe the use of the tetraphenylphosphonium cation (TPP+) to dissipate the membrane potential (delta psi) of the vesicles, while preserving ionic gradients. The characteristics of the lipid-soluble cation TPP+ allows a massive inflow of this cation into vesicular compartments and a consequent depolarization.

Dual role of K+ and Na+ on the transport of [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid by synaptic plasma membrane vesicles

The influence of the monovalent cations (Na+ and K+) and of the electrical gradient on the high-affinity [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) transport was investigated in synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) vesicles isolated from sheep brain cortex. This process specifically requires internal K+, since when it is replaced by Li+, the delta psi remains of the same order of magnitude, but no uptake of [3H]GABA occurs. The influence of the external Na+ concentration on the rate of [3H]GABA uptake suggests that this mechanism exhibits two components, whose characteristics are determined by the delta psi. Depolarization reduces the Jmax of [3H]GABA influx and enhances the binding of Na+ associated to [3H]GABA transport. Nevertheless, depolarization does not affect the K0.5 of binding sites for Na+ and the stoichiometry of translocation. These results suggest that intravesicular K+ and external Na+ have a dual role on the mechanism of [3H]GABA uptake: K+ acts directly on the carrier and determines the membrane polarization; Na+ is cotransported with GABA and, according to the polarization state of the membrane, it modulates the operation of the carrier in its inward GABA translocation.

Buffer-stimulated citrate efflux in Penicillium simplicissimum: an alternative charge balancing ion flow in case of reduced proton backflow?

Organic acids excreted by filamentous fungi may be used to win metals from industrial secondary raw materials. For a future commercial use a high production rate of organic acids is necessary. The conditions under which the commercially used fungus Aspergillus niger excretes high amounts of citric acid can not be maintained in metal leaching processes. However, Penicillium simplicissimum showed an enhanced citric acid efflux in the presence of an industrial filter dust containing 50% zinc oxide. Because Good buffers of high molarity were able to mimic the effect of zinc oxide, the high buffering capacity of zinc oxide and not an effect of the zinc ions was held responsible for the enhanced citric acid efflux. The presence of ammonium and trace elements reduced this buffer-stimulated citric acid efflux, whereas the plant hormone auxine canceled this reduction. This citric acid efflux was influenced by a depolarization of the membrane: the freely permeable compound tetraphenylphosphoniumbromide decreased the citric acid efflux, without decreasing intracellular citric acid or consumption of glucose and oxygen. Vanadate, an inhibitor of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase also reduced the buffer-stimulated citric acid efllux. The role of the efflux of citrate anions as an alternative charge balancing ion flow in case of impaired backflow of extruded protons because of a high extracellular buffering capacity is discussed.

Proton-linked sugar transport systems in bacteria

The cell membranes of various bacteria contain proton-linked transport systems for D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-glucose, L-rhamnose, L-fucose, lactose, and melibiose. The melibiose transporter of E. coli is linked to both Na+ and H+ translocation. The substrate and inhibitor specificities of the monosaccharide transporters are described. By locating, cloning, and sequencing the genes encoding the sugar/H+ transporters in E. coli, the primary sequences of the transport proteins have been deduced. Those for xylose/H+, arabinose/H+, and galactose/H+ transport are homologous to each other. Furthermore, they are just as similar to the primary sequences of the following: glucose transport proteins found in a Cyanobacterium, yeast, alga, rat, mouse, and man; proteins for transport of galactose, lactose, or maltose in species of yeast; and to a developmentally regulated protein of Leishmania for which a function is not yet established. Some of these proteins catalyze facilitated diffusion of the sugar without cation transport. From the alignments of the homologous amino acid sequences, predictions of common structural features can be made: there are likely to be twelve membrane-spanning alpha-helices, possibly in two groups of six; there is a central hydrophilic region, probably comprised largely of alpha-helix; the highly conserved amino acid residues (40-50 out of 472-522 total) form discrete patterns or motifs throughout the proteins that are presumably critical for substrate recognition and the molecular mechanism of transport. Some of these features are found also in other transport proteins for citrate, tetracycline, lactose, or melibiose, the primary sequences of which are not similar to each other or to the homologous series of transporters. The glucose/Na+ transporter of rabbit and man is different in primary sequence to all the other sugar transporters characterized, but it is homologous to the proline/Na+ transporter of E. coli, and there is evidence for its structural similarity to glucose/H+ transporters in Plants. In vivo and in vitro mutagenesis of the lactose/H+ and melibiose/Na+ (H+) transporters of E. coli has identified individual amino acid residues alterations of which affect sugar and/or cation recognition and parameters of transport. Most of the bacterial transport proteins have been identified and the lactose/H+ transporter has been purified. The directions of future investigations are discussed.