[Demonstration of 2 phosphate transport systems in Candida tropicalis]

Regulation of phosphate acquisition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Membrane transport systems active in cellular inorganic phosphate (P(i)) acquisition play a key role in maintaining cellular P(i) homeostasis, independent of whether the cell is a unicellular microorganism or is contained in the tissue of a higher eukaryotic organism. Since unicellular eukaryotes such as yeast interact directly with the nutritious environment, regulation of P(i) transport is maintained solely by transduction of nutrient signals across the plasma membrane. The individual yeast cell thus recognizes nutrients that can act as both signals and sustenance. The present review provides an overview of P(i) acquisition via the plasma membrane P(i) transporters of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the regulation of internal P(i) stores under the prevailing P(i) status.

Immunological evidence for the involvement of cell wall proteins in phosphate uptake in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Immunological cross-reactivity between cell wall proteins obtained from two yeast genera (Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is reported. Specific retention of two cell wall proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by an immunoabsorbent column coupled with antibodies against phosphate binding protein 2(PiBP2) from Candida tropicalis allowed to generate antibodies against the proteins from S. cerevisiae. These antibodies were effective in inhibiting phosphate uptake by S. cerevisiae cells. The proteins from S. cerevisiae displayed a phosphate binding activity which was inhibited in the presence of the forementioned antibodies. These results and the observation that the amount of these proteins in the shock fluid was dependent of the growth conditions (i.e., in the presence or in the absence of phosphate) support the idea that these proteins are involved in the high affinity phosphate transport system.

Phosphate uptake in the yeast Candida tropicalis: purification of phosphate-binding protein and investigations about its role in phosphate uptake

The purification of a phosphate-binding protein (PiBP2) by immunoadsorption is described. The entire anti phosphate-binding protein 2 antibodies as well as the Fab fragments obtained from these antibodies inhibit Pi uptake by whole cells. The inhibition is a mixed type of inhibition (Vm and Km are affected). These results should be regarded as a possible involvement of phosphate-binding protein 2 in Pi uptake. The binding of 125I-labelled fragments prepared from anti phosphate-binding protein 2 antibodies to whole cells, to shocked cells and to protoplasts has been investigated. The results confirm the release of phosphate-binding protein by osmotic shock and during protoplast formation. From these findings, a cell-wall localisation, near the cell surface of the phosphate-binding protein should be proposed.

Derepression of the high-affinity phosphate uptake in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Phosphate starvation derepresses a high-affinity phosphate uptake system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain A294, while in the same time the low-affinity phosphate uptake system disappears. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide prevents the derepression, but has no effect as soon as the high-affinity system is fully derepressed. Two other protein synthesis inhibitors, lomofungin and 8-hydroxyquinoline, were found to interfere also with the low-affinity system and with Rb+ uptake. After incubation of the yeast cells in the presence of phosphate the high-affinity system is not derepressed, but the Vmax of the low-affinity system has decreased from about 35%. Phosphate supplement after derepression causes the high-affinity system to disappear to a certain extent while in the meantime the low-affinity system reappears. The results are compared with those found in the yeast Candida tropicalis for phosphate uptake.

Identification of a plasma membrane protein involved in Pi transport in the yeast Candida tropicalis

A plasma membrane protein was found to contain antigenic determinants in common with a Pi-binding protein released by osmotic shock from Candida tropicalis. This plasma membrane protein (M.P. 30) has a molecular mass of 30 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE and anti-M.P. 30 antibodies inhibit Pi uptake in protoplasts while only the corresponding Fab fragments inhibit Pi transport in whole cells. This plasma membrane protein may be the Pi plasma membrane carrier.

Inorganic phosphate uptake by protoplasts and whole cells of yeast Candida tropicalis: absence of high affinity transport system in protoplasts

Pi-uptake by protoplasts obtained from the yeast Candida tropicalis as well as in whole cells is an energy dependent process. However, the apparent affinity constant of Pi transport by protoplasts about 0.4-0.5 mM whereas Km of 5-6 microM, occurs in whole cells as previously shown. Therefore it can be concluded that protoplasts take up actively Pi but the high affinity capacities are lost. In addition, the Pi-binding proteins are released during protoplasts formation. The presence of Pi-binding proteins in the "cellulase fluid" is demonstrated by immunological tests and by their binding activities after partial purification. These results are in good agreement with the involvement of Pi-binding proteins in Pi uptake in the yeast Candida tropicalis.

Characterization of the plasma membrane ATPase of Candida tropicalis

1) Plasma membrane vesicles from Candida tropicalis were isolated from protoplasts by differential centrifugation and purified in a continuous sucrose gradient. 2) The plasma membrane bound ATPase was characterized. It is highly specific for ATP and requires Mg2+. It is stimulated by K+, Na+ and NH4+. Lineweaver-Burk plots for ATPase activity are linear with a Vmax of 4.2 mumoles of ATP hydrolyzed min-1.mg-1 protein and a Km for ATP of 0.76 mM. The ATPase activity is inhibited competitively by ADP with a Ki of 1.7 mM and non competitively by vanadate with a Ki of 3 microM. The activity is unaffected by oligomycin or azide but is sensitive to DCCD.

The regulation of the energy-dependent phosphate uptake by the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans

Investigations of the energy-dependent accumulation of orthophosphate by the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans have established: 1. The transport through the cell membrane is the rate-limiting step in the incorporation of phosphate.-2. This transport is facilitated by a "carrier" that can be activated by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) and inhibited by EDTA.-3. The activation of the carrier in the light is associated with changes of the cytoplasmic Mg(2+) content.-4. Intracellular phosphate is shown to be present in bound form.-5. The energy-dependent accumulation of orthophosphate within the cell depends strictly on the cytoplasmic pH and not on the energy conversion at the thylakoid membrane which is responsible for the energy supply. The cytoplasmic pH is different in the light, in the dark, and in the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Orthophosphate accumulation can most readily be explained in terms of a pH dependent precipitation into a complex with bivalent cations rather than by an active transport against a concentration gradient.

Two systems for the uptake of phosphate in Escherichia coli

Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 were constructed such that each possessed one single major system for phosphate transport. A comparison of these strains showed that one of the systems (PIT) was fully constitutive, required no binding protein, and operated in spheroplasts. It permitted the complete exchange of intracellular phosphate with extracellular phosphate (or arsenate) and was completely inhibited by uncouplers. The other system, PST, was repressible by phosphate concentrations above 1 mM, required the phosphate-binding protein for full activity, and did not operate in spheroplasts. It catalyzed very little exchange between internal and external phosphate and was resistant to uncouplers. The maximal velocities attained by the two systems were approximately the same, but the affinity for phosphate in the PST system was greater by two orders of magnitude. In strains in which both systems were fully operative, the initial rates of uptake was nearly additive, and the systems appeared to interact with a common intracellular phosphate pool.