Amino acid residues responsible for galactose recognition in yeast Gal2 transporter

Identification of key residues for efficient glucose transport by the hexose transporter CgHxt4 in high sugar fermentation yeast Candida glycerinogenes

Efficient hexose transporters are essential for the development of industrial yeast strains with high fermentation performance. We previously identified a hexose transporter, CgHxt4, with excellent sugar uptake performance at ultra-high glucose concentrations (200 g/L) in the high sugar fermenting yeast C. glycerinogenes. To understand the working mechanism of this transporter, we constructed 87 mutants and examined their glucose uptake performance. The results revealed that five residues (N321, N322, F325, G426, and P427) are essential for the efficient glucose transport of CgHxt4. Subsequently, we focused our analysis on the roles of N321 and P427. Specifically, N321 and P427 are likely to play a role in glucose coordination and conformational flexibility, respectively. Our results help to expand the application potential of this transporter and provide insights into the working mechanism of yeast hexose transporter. KEY POINTS: • Five residues, transmembrane segments 7 and 10, were found to be essential for CgHxt4. • N321 and P427 are likely to play a role in glucose coordination and conformational flexibility, respectively. • Chimeric CgHxt5.4TM7 significantly enhanced the performance of CgHxt5.

Environment-dependent fitness gains can be driven by horizontal gene transfer of transporter-encoding genes

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the transfer of genetic information between genomes by a route other than from parent to offspring. Of particular interest here are the transfers of transporter-encoding genes, which can allow an organism to utilize a new metabolite, often via the acquisition of a single foreign gene. Here we have identified a range of HGT events of transporter-encoding genes, characterized the substrate preferences for each HGT encoded protein, and demonstrated that the gain of one of these HGTs can provide yeast with a distinct competitive advantage in a given environment. This has wide implications for understanding how acquisition of single genes by HGT can drastically influence the environments fungi can colonize.

Many microbes acquire metabolites in a “feeding” process where complex polymers are broken down in the environment to their subunits. The subsequent uptake of soluble metabolites by a cell, sometimes called osmotrophy, is facilitated by transporter proteins. As such, the diversification of osmotrophic microorganisms is closely tied to the diversification of transporter functions. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been suggested to produce genetic variation that can lead to adaptation, allowing lineages to acquire traits and expand niche ranges. Transporter genes often encode single-gene phenotypes and tend to have low protein–protein interaction complexity and, as such, are potential candidates for HGT. Here we test the idea that HGT has underpinned the expansion of metabolic potential and substrate utilization via transfer of transporter-encoding genes. Using phylogenomics, we identify seven cases of transporter-gene HGT between fungal phyla, and investigate compatibility, localization, function, and fitness consequences when these genes are expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using this approach, we demonstrate that the transporters identified can alter how fungi utilize a range of metabolites, including peptides, polyols, and sugars. We then show, for one model gene, that transporter gene acquisition by HGT can significantly alter the fitness landscape of S. cerevisiae. We therefore provide evidence that transporter HGT occurs between fungi, alters how fungi can acquire metabolites, and can drive gain in fitness. We propose a “transporter-gene acquisition ratchet,” where transporter repertoires are continually augmented by duplication, HGT, and differential loss, collectively acting to overwrite, fine-tune, and diversify the complement of transporters present in a genome.

Expansion and Diversification of MFS Transporters in Kluyveromyces marxianus

In yeasts, proteins of the Major Superfamily Transporter selectively bind and allow the uptake of sugars to permit growth on varied substrates. The genome of brewer’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encodes multiple hexose transporters (Hxt) to transport glucose and other MFS proteins for maltose, galactose, and other monomers. For sugar uptake, the dairy yeast, Kluyveromyces lactis, uses Rag1p for glucose, Hgt1 for glucose and galactose, and Lac12 for lactose. In the related industrial species Kluyveromyces marxianus, there are four genes encoding Lac12-like proteins but only one of them, Lac12, can transport lactose. In this study, which initiated with efforts to investigate possible functions encoded by the additional LAC12 genes in K. marxianus, a genome-wide survey of putative MFS sugar transporters was performed. Unexpectedly, it was found that the KHT and the HGT genes are present as tandem arrays of five to six copies, with the precise number varying between isolates. Heterologous expression of individual genes in S. cerevisiae and mutagenesis of single and multiple genes in K. marxianus was performed to establish possible substrates for these transporters. The focus was on the sugar galactose since it was already reported in K. lactis that this hexose was a substrate for both Lac12 and Hgt1. It emerged that three of the four copies of Lac12, four Hgt-like proteins and one Kht-like protein have some capacity to transport galactose when expressed in S. cerevisiae and inactivation of all eight genes was required to completely abolish galactose uptake in K. marxianus. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of all known yeast galactose transporters failed to identify common residues that explain the selectivity for galactose. Instead, the capacity to transport galactose has arisen three different times in K. marxianus via polymorphisms in proteins that are probably ancestral glucose transporters. Although, this is analogous to S. cerevisiae, in which Gal2 is related to glucose transporters, there are not conserved amino acid changes, either with Gal2, or among the K. marxianus galactose transporters. The data highlight how gene duplication and functional diversification has provided K. marxianus with versatile capacity to utilise sugars for growth.

Key amino acid residues of the AGT1 permease required for maltotriose consumption and fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

AIMS

The AGT1 gene encodes for a general α-glucoside-H⁺ symporter required for efficient maltotriose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the present study, we analysed the involvement of four charged amino acid residues present in this transporter that are required for maltotriose consumption and fermentation by yeast cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

By using a knowledge-driven approach based on charge, conservation, location, three-dimensional (3D) structural modelling and molecular docking analysis, we identified four amino acid residues (Glu-120, Asp-123, Glu-167 and Arg-504) in the AGT1 permease that could mediate substrate binding and translocation. Mutant permeases were generated by site-directed mutagenesis of these charged residues, and expressed in a yeast strain lacking this permease (agt1∆). While mutating the Arg-504 or Glu-120 residues into alanine totally abolished (R504A mutant) or greatly reduced (E120A mutant) maltotriose consumption by yeast cells, as well as impaired the active transport of several other α-glucosides, in the case of the Asp-123 and Glu-167 amino acids, it was necessary to mutate both residues (D123G/E167A mutant) in order to impair maltotriose consumption and fermentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results obtained with mutant proteins, molecular docking and the localization of amino acid residues, we propose a transport mechanism for the AGT1 permease.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results present new insights into the structural basis for active α-glucoside-H⁺ symport activity by yeast transporters, providing the molecular bases for improving the catalytic properties of this type of sugar transporters.

A novel major facilitator transporter TrSTR1 is essential for pentose utilization and involved in xylanase induction in Trichoderma reesei

Trichoderma reesei (teleomorph Hypocrea jecorina) is an industrially important filamentous fungus for glycoside hydrolases production, with its xylanolytic enzymes widely applied in many areas. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying xylanase expression are still insufficiently understood. In particular, the effect of sugar transporter on the induction of xylanase expression is unclear. In this work, we identified a novel major facilitator transporter TrSTR1 that is capable of transporting xylose by using a xylose utilization system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In T. reesei, TrSTR1 is essential for the utilization of d-xylose, l-arabinose, and even their downstream metabolites D-xylitol and L-arabitol. TrSTR1 is also involved in the induction of xylanase expression since both the xylanase activity and extracellular protein concentration in the Tu6△str1 strain were decreased, which further confirmed by a qRT-PCR analysis of the transcript levels of the key transcriptional regulators. Our observations provide new insights into connections between pentose utilization and xylanase production in T. reesei.

Ght2⁺ is required for UDP-galactose synthesis from extracellular galactose by Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Schizosaccharomyces pombe has eight hexose transporter genes, ght1 (+) to ght8 (+). Here we report that ght2 (+), which is highly expressed in the presence of glucose, is essential for UDP-galactose synthesis from extracellular galactose when cells grow on glucose. The galactosylation defect of a uge1Δ mutant defective in synthesis of UDP-galactose from glucose was suppressed in galactose-containing medium, but disruption of ght2 (+) in the uge1Δ mutant reversed suppression of the galactosylation defect. Expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL2 in uge1Δght2Δ cells suppressed the defective galactosylation phenotype in galactose-containing medium. These results indicate that galactose is transported from the medium to the cytosol in a Ght2-dependent manner, and is then converted into UDP-galactose.

Crucial effects of amino acid side chain length in transmembrane segment 5 on substrate affinity in yeast glucose transporter Hxt7

We previously identified Asp(340) in transmembrane segment 7 (TM7) as a key determinant of substrate affinity in Hxt7, a high-affinity facilitative glucose transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To gain further insight into the structural basis of substrate recognition by Hxt7, we performed cysteine-scanning mutagenesis of 21 residues in TM5 of a Cys-less form of Hxt7. Four residues were sensitive to Cys replacement, among which Gln(209) was found to be essential for high-affinity glucose transport activity. The 17 remaining sites were examined further for the accessibility of cysteine to the hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS). Among the Cys mutants, T213C was the only one whose transport activity was completely inhibited by 0.5 mM pCMBS. Moreover, this mutant was protected from pCMBS inhibition by the substrate d-glucose and by 2-deoxy-D-glucose but not by L-glucose, indicating that Thr(213) is situated at or close to a substrate recognition site. The functional role of Thr(213) was further examined with its replacement with each of the other 19 amino acids in wild-type Hxt7. Such replacement generated seven functional transporters with various affinities for glucose. Only three mutants, those with Val, Cys, and Ser at position 213, exhibited high-affinity glucose transport activity. All of these residues possess a side chain length similar to that of Thr, indicating that side chain length at this position is a key determinant of substrate affinity. A working homology model of Hxt7 indicated that Gln(209) and Thr(213) face the central cavity and that Thr(213) is located within van der Waals distance of Asp(340) (TM7).

The role of transmembrane domain 9 in substrate recognition by the fungal high-affinity glutathione transporters

Hgt1p, a high-affinity glutathione transporter from Saccharomyces cerevisiae belongs to the recently described family of OPTs (oligopeptide transporters), the majority of whose members still have unknown substrate specificity. To obtain insights into substrate recognition and translocation, we have subjected all 21 residues of TMD9 (transmembrane domain 9) to alanine-scanning mutagenesis. Phe523 was found to be critical for glutathione recognition, since F523A mutants showed a 4-fold increase in Km without affecting expression or localization. Phe523 and the previously identified polar residue Gln526 were on the same face of the helix suggesting a joint participation in glutathione recognition, whereas two other polar residues, Ser519 and Asn522, of TMD9, although also orientated on the same face, did not appear to be involved. The size and hydrophobicity of Phe523 were both key features of its functionality, as seen from mutational analysis. Sequence alignments revealed that Phe523 and Gln526 were conserved in a cluster of OPT homologues from different fungi. A second cluster contained isoleucine and glutamate residues in place of phenylalanine and glutamine residues, residues that are best tolerated in Hgt1p for glutathione transporter activity, when introduced together. The critical nature of the residues at these positions in TMD9 for substrate recognition was exploited to assign substrate specificities of several putative fungal orthologues present in these and other clusters. The presence of either phenylalanine and glutamine or isoleucine and glutamate residues at these positions correlated with their function as high-affinity glutathione transporters based on genetic assays and the Km of these transporters towards glutathione.

Identification of a key residue determining substrate affinity in the yeast glucose transporter Hxt7: a two-dimensional comprehensive study

We previously identified Asn(331) in transmembrane segment 7 (TM7) as a key residue determining substrate affinity in Hxt2, a moderately high-affinity facilitative glucose transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To gain further insight into the structural basis of substrate recognition by yeast glucose transporters, we have now studied Hxt7, whose affinity for glucose is the highest among the major hexose transporters. The functional role of Asp(340) in Hxt7, the residue corresponding to Asn(331) of Hxt2, was examined by replacing it with each of the other 19 amino acids. Such replacement of Asp(340) generated transporters with various affinities for glucose, with the affinity of the Cys(340) mutant surpassing that of the wild-type Hxt7. To examine the structural role of Asp(340) in the substrate translocation pathway, we performed cysteine-scanning mutagenesis of the 21 residues in TM7 of a functional Cys-less Hxt7 mutant in conjunction with exposure to the hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS). The transport activity of the D340C mutant of Cys-less Hxt7, in which Asp(340) is replaced with Cys, was completely inhibited by pCMBS, indicating that Asp(340) is located in a water-accessible position. This D340C mutant showed a sensitivity to pCMBS that was approximately 70 times that of the wild-type Hxt7, and it was protected from pCMBS inhibition by the substrates d-glucose and 2-deoxy-d-glucose but not by l-glucose. These results indicate that Asp(340) is situated at or close to a substrate recognition site and is a key residue determining high-affinity glucose transport by Hxt7, supporting the notion that yeast glucose transporters share a common mechanism for substrate recognition.

Amino acid residues involved in ligand preference of the Snf3 transporter-like sensor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Snf3 is a plasma membrane protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae able to sense the presence of glucose. Although the Snf3 protein does not transport sugars, it shares sequence similarity with various glucose transporters from other organisms. We investigated the sugar specificity/preferences of Snf3. The ability of cells to sense sugars in vivo was monitored by following the degradation of the Mth1 protein, an early event in the signal pathway. Our study reveals that Snf3, in addition to glucose, also senses fructose and mannose, as well as the glucose analogues 2-deoxyglucose, 3-O-methylglucoside and 6-deoxyglucose. The signalling proficiency of a non-phosphorylatable analogue strongly supports the notion that sensing through Snf3 does not require sugar phosphorylation. Sequence comparisons of Snf3 to glucose transporters indicated amino acid residues possibly involved in sensing of sugars other than glucose. By site-specific mutagenesis of the structural gene, roles of specific residues in Snf3 could be established. Change of isoleucine-374 to valine in transmembrane segment 7 of Snf3 partially abolished sensing of fructose and mannose, while mutagenesis causing a change of phenylalanine-462 to tyrosine in transmembrane segment 10 of Snf3 abolished sensing of fructose. Neither of these amino acid changes affected the ability of Snf3 to sense glucose, nor did they permit Snf3 to sense galactose. These data indicate a similarity between a ligand binding site of the sensor Snf3 and binding sites used for facilitated hexose transport in the GLUT proteins.

Gln-222 in transmembrane domain 4 and Gln-526 in transmembrane domain 9 are critical for substrate recognition in the yeast high affinity glutathione transporter, Hgt1p

Hgt1p, a member of the oligopeptide transporter family, is a high affinity glutathione transporter from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have explored the role of polar or charged residues in the putative transmembrane domains of Hgt1p to obtain insights into the structural features of Hgt1p that govern its substrate specificity. A total of 22 charged and polar residues in the predicted transmembrane domains and other conserved regions were subjected to alanine mutagenesis. Functional characterization of these 22 mutants identified 11 mutants which exhibited significant loss in functional activity. All 11 mutants except T114A had protein expression levels comparable with wild type, and all except E744A were proficient in trafficking to the cell surface. Kinetic analyses revealed differential contributions toward the functional activity of Hgt1p by these residues and identified Asn-124 in transmembrane domain 1 (TMD1), Gln-222 in TMD4, Gln-526 in TMD9, and Glu-544, Arg-554, and Lys-562 in the intracellular loop region 537-568 containing the highly conserved proline-rich motif to be essential for the transport activity of the protein. Furthermore, mutants Q222A and Q526A exhibited a nearly 4- and 8-fold increase in the K(m) for glutathione. Interestingly, although Gln-222 is widely conserved among other functionally characterized oligopeptide transporter family members including those having a different substrate specificity, Gln-526 is present only in Hgt1p and Pgt1, the only two known high affinity glutathione transporters. These results provide the first insights into the substrate recognition residues of a high affinity glutathione transporter and on residues/helices involved in substrate translocation in the structurally uncharacterized oligopeptide transporter family.

Identification of a key residue determining substrate affinity in the human glucose transporter GLUT1

Asn(331) in transmembrane segment 7 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae transporter Hxt2 has been identified as a single key residue for high-affinity glucose transport by comprehensive chimera approach. The glucose transporter GLUT1 of mammals belongs to the same major facilitator superfamily as Hxt2 and may therefore show a similar mechanism of substrate recognition. The functional role of Ile(287) in human GLUT1, which corresponds to Asn(331) in Hxt2, was studied by its replacement with each of the other 19 amino acids. The mutant transporters were individually expressed in a recently developed yeast expression system for GLUT1. Replacement of Ile(287) generated transporters with various affinities for glucose that correlated well with those of the corresponding mutants of the yeast transporter. Residues exhibiting high affinity for glucose were medium-sized, non-aromatic, uncharged and irrelevant to hydrogen-bond capability, suggesting an important role of van der Waals interaction. Sensitivity to phloretin, a specific inhibitor for the presumed exofacial glucose binding site, was decreased in two mutants, whereas that to cytochalasin B, a specific inhibitor for the presumed endofacial glucose binding site, was unchanged in the mutants. These results suggest that Ile(287) is a key residue for maintaining high glucose affinity in GLUT1 as revealed in Hxt2 and is located at or near the exofacial glucose binding site.

Identification by Comprehensive Chimeric Analysis of a Key Residue Responsible for High Affinity Glucose Transport by Yeast HXT2

Hxt2 and Hxt1 are, respectively, high affinity and low affinity facilitative glucose transporter paralogs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have previously investigated which amino acid residues of Hxt2 are important for high affinity transport activity. Studies with all the possible combinations of 12 transmembrane segments (TMs) of Hxt2 and Hxt1 revealed that TMs 1, 5, 7, and 8 of Hxt2 are necessary for high affinity transport. Systematic shuffling of the 20 amino acid residues that differ between Hxt2 and Hxt1 in these TMs subsequently identified 5 residues as important for such activity: Leu(59) and Leu(61) (TM1), Leu(201) (TM5), Asn(331) (TM7), and Phe(366) (TM8). We have now studied the relative importance of these 5 residues by individually replacing them with each of the other 19 residues. Replacement of Asn(331) yielded transporters with various affinities, with those of the Ile(331), Val(331), and Cys(331) mutants being higher than that of the wild type. Replacement of the Hxt2 residues at the other four sites yielded transporters with affinities similar to that of the wild type but with various capacities. A working homology model of the chimeric transporters containing Asn(331) or its 19 replacement residues indicated that those residues at this site that yield high affinity transporters (Ile(331), Val(331), Cys(331)) face the central cavity and are within van der Waals distances of Phe(208) (TM5), Leu(357) (TM8), and Tyr(427) (TM10). Interactions via these residues of the four TMs, which compose a half of the central pore, may thus play a pivotal role in formation of a core structure for high affinity transport.

Eight amino acid residues in transmembrane segments of yeast glucose transporter Hxt2 are required for high affinity transport

Hxt2 and Hxt1 are high affinity and low affinity facilitative glucose transporter paralogs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively, that differ at 75 amino acid positions in their 12 transmembrane segments (TMs). Comprehensive analysis of chimeras of these two proteins has previously revealed that TMs 1, 5, 7, and 8 of Hxt2 are required for high affinity glucose transport activity and that leucine 201 in TM5 is the most important in this regard of the 20 amino acid residues in these regions that differ between Hxt2 and Hxt1. To evaluate the importance of the remaining residues, we systematically shuffled the amino acids at these positions and screened the resulting proteins for high affinity and high capacity glucose transport activity. In addition to leucine 201 (TM5), four residues of Hxt2 (leucine 59 and leucine 61 in TM1, asparagine 331 in TM7, and phenylalanine 366 in TM8) were found to be important for such activity. Furthermore, phenylalanine 198 (TM5), alanine 363 (TM8), and either valine 316 (TM7) or alanine 368 (TM8) were found to be supportive of maximal activity. Construction of a homology model suggested that asparagine 331 interacts directly with the substrate and that the other identified residues may contribute to maintenance of protein conformation.

Identification of the mstE gene encoding a glucose-inducible, low affinity glucose transporter in Aspergillus nidulans

The mstE gene encoding a low affinity glucose transporter active during the germination of Aspergillus nidulans conidia on glucose medium has been identified. mstE expression also occurs in hyphae, is induced in the presence of other repressing carbon sources besides glucose, and is dependent on the function of the transcriptional repressor CreA. The expression of MstE and its subcellular distribution have been studied using a MstE-sGFP fusion protein. Concordant with data on mstE expression, MstE-sGFP is synthesized in the presence of repressing carbon sources, and fluorescence at the periphery of conidia and hyphae is consistent with MstE location in the plasma membrane. Deletion of mstE has no morphological phenotype but results in the absence of low affinity glucose uptake kinetics, the latter being substituted by a high affinity system.

Identification of Sorbitol Transporters Expressed in the Phloem of Apple Source Leaves

Sorbitol is a major photosynthetic product and a major phloem-translocated component in Rosaceae (e.g. apple, pear, peach, and cherry). We isolated the three cDNAs, MdSOT3, MdSOT4, and MdSOT5 from apple (Malus domestica) source leaves, which are homologous to plant polyol transporters. Yeasts transformed with the MdSOTs took up sorbitol significantly. MdSOT3- and MdSOT5-dependent sorbitol uptake was strongly inhibited by xylitol and myo-inositol, but not or only weakly by mannitol and dulcitol. Apparent K(m) values of MdSOT3 and MdSOT5 for sorbitol were estimated to be 0.71 mM and 3.2 mM, respectively. The protonophore, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), strongly inhibited the sorbitol transport. MdSOT3 was expressed specifically in source leaves, whereas MdSOT4 and MdSOT5 were expressed in source leaves and also in some sink organs. MdSOT4 and MdSOT5 expressions were highest in flowers. Fruits showed no or only weak MdSOT expression. Although MdSOT4 and MdSOT5 were also expressed in immature leaves, MdSOT expressions increased with leaf maturation. In addition, in situ hybridization revealed that all MdSOTs were expressed to high levels in phloem of minor veins in source leaves. These results suggest that these MdSOTs are involved in sorbitol loading in Rosaceae.

Glucose uptake in Trichoderma harzianum: role of gtt1

Using a differential display technique, the gene gtt1, which codes for a high-affinity glucose transporter, has been cloned from the mycoparasite fungus Trichoderma harzianum CECT 2413. The deduced protein sequence of the gtt1 gene shows the 12 transmembrane domains typical of sugar transporters, together with certain residues involved in glucose uptake, such as a conserved arginine between domains IV and V and an aromatic residue (Phe) in the sequence of domain X. The gtt1 gene is transcriptionally regulated, being repressed at high levels of glucose. When carbon sources other than glucose are utilized, gtt1 repression is partially alleviated. Full derepression of gtt1 is obtained when the fungus is grown in the presence of low carbon source concentrations. This regulation pattern correlates with the role of this gene in glucose uptake during carbon starvation. Gene expression is also controlled by pH, so that the gtt1 gene is repressed at pH 6 but not at pH 3, a fact which represents a novel aspect of the influence of pH on the gene expression of transporters. pH also affects glucose transport, since a strongly acidic pH provokes a 40% decrease in glucose transport velocity. Biochemical characterization of the transport shows a very low K(m) value for glucose (12 micro M). A transformant strain that overexpresses the gtt1 gene shows a threefold increase in glucose but not galactose or xylose uptake, a finding which confirms the role of the gtt1 gene in glucose transport. The cloning of the first filamentous ascomycete glucose transporter is the first step in elucidating the mechanisms of glucose uptake and carbon repression in aerobic fungi.

Transmembrane segments 1, 5, 7 and 8 are required for high-affinity glucose transport by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hxt2 transporter

Hxt2 is a high-affinity facilitative glucose transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and belongs to the major facilitator superfamily. Hxt1 shares approximately 70% amino acid identity with Hxt2 in its transmembrane segments (TMs) and inter-TM loops, but transports D-glucose with an affinity about one-tenth of that of Hxt2. To determine which TMs of Hxt2 are important for high-affinity glucose transport, we constructed chimaeras of Hxt2 and Hxt1 by randomly replacing each of the 12 TMs of Hxt2 with the corresponding segment of Hxt1, for a total of 4096 different transporters. Among > 20000 yeast transformants screened, 39 different clones were selected by plate assays of high-affinity glucose-transport activity and sequenced. With only two exceptions, the selected chimaeras contained Hxt2 TMs 1, 5, 7 and 8. We then constructed chimaeras corresponding to all 16 possible combinations of Hxt2 TMs 1, 5, 7 and 8. Only one chimaera, namely that containing all four Hxt2 TMs, exhibited transport activity comparable with that of Hxt2. The K (m) and V (max) values for D-glucose transport, and the substrate specificity of this chimaera were almost identical with those of Hxt2. These results indicate that TMs 1, 5, 7 and 8 are necessary for exhibiting high-affinity glucose-transport activity of Hxt2.

Characterization and expression of monosaccharide transporters (osMSTs) in rice

This study deals with the cloning and characterization of monosaccharide transporter cDNAs in rice. OsMST1-3 (Oryza sativa monosaccharide transporters 1-3) have two sets of putative six transmembrane domains separated by a central long hydrophilic region. Heterologous expression of OsMST3 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae indicated that OsMST3 has transport activity for some monosaccharides in an energy-dependent H+ co-transport manner. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses showed that OsMST3 mRNA is detectable in leaf blades, leaf sheaths, calli and roots, especially the xylem as well as in sclerenchyma cells in the root. These results suggested that OsMST3 is involved in the accumulation of monosaccharides required for cell wall synthesis at the stage of cell thickening.

Monosaccharide transporters in plants: structure, function and physiology

Monosaccharide transport across the plant plasma membrane plays an important role both in lower and higher plants. Algae can switch between phototrophic and heterotrophic growth and utilize organic compounds, such as monosaccharides as additional or sole carbon sources. Higher plants represent complex mosaics of phototrophic and heterotrophic cells and tissues and depend on the activity of numerous transporters for the correct partitioning of assimilated carbon between their different organs. The cloning of monosaccharide transporter genes and cDNAs identified closely related integral membrane proteins with 12 transmembrane helices exhibiting significant homology to monosaccharide transporters from yeast, bacteria and mammals. Structural analyses performed with several members of this transporter superfamily identified protein domains or even specific amino acid residues putatively involved in substrate binding and specificity. Expression of plant monosaccharide transporter cDNAs in yeast cells and frog oocytes allowed the characterization of substrate specificities and kinetic parameters. Immunohistochemical studies, in situ hybridization analyses and studies performed with transgenic plants expressing reporter genes under the control of promoters from specific monosaccharide transporter genes allowed the localization of the transport proteins or revealed the sites of gene expression. Higher plants possess large families of monosaccharide transporter genes and each of the encoded proteins seems to have a specific function often confined to a limited number of cells and regulated both developmentally and by environmental stimuli.

Interaction between the critical aromatic amino acid residues Tyr(352) and Phe(504) in the yeast Gal2 transporter

Three critical aromatic sites have been identified in the yeast galactose transporter Gal2: Tyr(352) at the extracellular boundary of putative transmembrane segment (TM) 7, Tyr(446) in the middle of TM10 and Phe(504) in the middle of TM12. The relationship between these sites was investigated by random mutagenesis of each combination of two of the three residues. Galactose transport-positive clones selected by plate assays encoded Tyr(446) and specific combinations of aromatic residues at sites 352 and 504. Double-site mutants containing aromatic residues at these latter two positions showed either essentially full galactose transport activity (Phe(352)Trp(504) and Trp(352)Trp(504)) or no significant activity (Phe(352)Tyr(504) and Trp(352)Tyr(504)), whereas single-site mutants showed markedly reduced activity. These results are indicative of a specific interaction between sites 352 and 504 of Gal2.

Multiple hexose transporters of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have identified a family of six hexose transporter genes (Ght1 to Ght6) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Sequence homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian hexose transporters (Hxtp and GLUTp, respectively) and secondary-structure predictions of 12 transmembrane domains for each of the Ght proteins place them into the sugar porter subfamily within the major facilitator superfamily. Interestingly, among this sugar porter family, the emerging S. pombe hexose transporter family clusters are separate from monosaccharide transporters of other yeasts (S. cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis, and Candida albicans) and of humans, suggesting that these proteins form a distinct structural family of hexose transporters. Expression of the Ght1, Ght2, Ght5, and Ght6 genes in the S. cerevisiae mutant RE700A may functionally complement its D-glucose uptake-deficient phenotype. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-PCR showed that among all Ght's of S. pombe, Ght5 is the most prominently expressed hexose transporter. Ght1p, Ght2p, and Ght5p displayed significantly higher specificities for D-glucose than for D-fructose. Analysis of the previously described S. pombe D-glucose transport-deficient mutant YGS-5 revealed that this strain is defective in the Ght1, Ght5, and Ght6 genes. Based on an analysis of three S. pombe strains bearing single or double mutations in Ght3 and Ght4, we conclude that the Ght3p function is required for D-gluconate transport in S. pombe. The function of Ght4p remains to be clarified. Ght6p exhibited a slightly higher affinity to D-fructose than to D-glucose, and among the Ght's it is the transporter with the highest specificity for D-fructose.

Three aromatic amino acid residues critical for galactose transport in yeast Gal2 transporter

Tyr(446) in putative transmembrane segment 10 (TM10) of the yeast galactose transporter Gal2 has previously been identified as essential for galactose recognition. In the present study, alignment of the amino acid sequences of 63 sugar transporters or related proteins revealed 14 aromatic sites, including Tyr(446) of Gal2, that are conserved in >75% of these proteins. The importance of the remaining 13 conserved aromatic amino acids was examined individually by random mutagenesis using degenerate primers. Galactose transport-positive clones were identified by plate selection and subjected to DNA sequencing. For those transport-positive clones corresponding to Tyr(352), and Phe(504) mutants, all the amino acid substitutions comprised aromatic residues. The importance of the aromatic residues at these sites was further investigated by replacing them individually with each of the other 19 amino acids and measuring the galactose transport activity of the resulting mutants. Among both Tyr(352) and Phe(504) mutants, the other aromatic amino acids supported galactose transport; no other amino acids conferred high affinity transport activity. Thus, at least three aromatic sites are critical for galactose transport: one at the extracellular boundary of putative TM7 (Tyr(352)), one in the middle of putative TM10 (Tyr(446)), and one in the middle of putative TM12 (Phe(504)).

Function and regulation of yeast hexose transporters

Glucose, the most abundant monosaccharide in nature, is the principal carbon and energy source for nearly all cells. The first, and rate-limiting, step of glucose metabolism is its transport across the plasma membrane. In cells of many organisms glucose ensures its own efficient metabolism by serving as an environmental stimulus that regulates the quantity, types, and activity of glucose transporters, both at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. This is most apparent in the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has 20 genes encoding known or likely glucose transporters, each of which is known or likely to have a different affinity for glucose. The expression and function of most of these HXT genes is regulated by different levels of glucose. This review focuses on the mechanisms S. cerevisiae and a few other fungal species utilize for sensing the level of glucose and transmitting this information to the nucleus to alter HXT gene expression. One mechanism represses transcription of some HXT genes when glucose levels are high and works through the Mig1 transcriptional repressor, whose function is regulated by the Snf1-Snf4 protein kinase and Reg1-Glc7 protein phosphatase. Another pathway induces HXT expression in response to glucose and employs the Rgt1 transcriptional repressor, a ubiquitin ligase protein complex (SCF(Grr1)) that regulates Rgt1 function, and two glucose sensors in the membrane (Snf3 and Rgt2) that bind glucose and generate the intracellular signal to which Rgt1 responds. These two regulatory pathways collaborate with other, less well-understood, pathways to ensure that yeast cells express the glucose transporters best suited for the amount of glucose available.

Structure and function of facilitative sugar transporters

Sugar transporters from one group of the major facilitator superfamily of membrane transporters. A conserved common central pore structure lies at the heart of these transporters and diverse functionality is brought about by alterations to this pore or regions associated with it. Recent mutagenesis studies of sugar transporters within the framework of tenable models for the distantly related lactose permease argue that this model is a good paradigm for other members of the major facilitator superfamily.

Contribution to substrate recognition of two aromatic amino acid residues in putative transmembrane segment 10 of the yeast sugar transporters Gal2 and Hxt2

The comprehensive study of chimeras between the Gal2 galactose transporter and the Hxt2 glucose transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has shown that Tyr446 is essential and Trp455 is important for galactose recognition by Gal2. Consistent with this finding, replacement of the corresponding Phe431 and Tyr440 residues of Hxt2 with Tyr and Trp, respectively, allowed Hxt2 to transport galactose, suggesting that the two amino acid residues in putative transmembrane segment 10 play a definite role in galactose recognition (Kasahara, M., Shimoda, E., and Maeda, M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 16721-16724). Replacement of Trp455 of Gal2 with any of the other 19 amino acids was shown to reduce galactose transport activity to between 0 and <20% of that of wild-type Gal2. The role of Phe431 in Hxt2 was similarly studied. Other than Phe, only Tyr at position 431 was able to support glucose transport activity, at the reduced level of <20%. In contrast, replacement of Tyr440 of Hxt2 with other amino acids revealed that most replacements, with the exception of Pro and charged amino acids, supported glucose transport activity. The importance of residue 431 in sugar recognition was more pronounced in a modified Hxt2 in which Tyr440 was replaced with Trp. Glucose transport was supported only by the aromatic amino acids Phe, Tyr, and Trp at position 431, and galactose transport was supported only by Tyr. These results suggest that an aromatic amino acid located in the middle of transmembrane segment 10 (Tyr446 in Gal2 and Phe431 in Hxt2) plays a critical role in substrate recognition in the yeast sugar transporter family to which Gal2 and Hxt2 belong.

Tryptophan 388 in putative transmembrane segment 10 of the rat glucose transporter Glut1 is essential for glucose transport

The molecular mechanism of substrate recognition in membrane transport is not well understood. Two amino acid residues, Tyr446 and Trp455 in transmembrane segment 10 (TM10), have been shown to be important for galactose recognition by the yeast Gal2 transporter; Tyr446 was found to be essential in that its replacement by any of the other 19 amino acids abolished transport activity (Kasahara, M., Shimoda, E., and Maeda, M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 16721-16724). The Glut1 glucose transporter of animal cells belongs to the same Glut transporter family as does Gal2 and thus might be expected to show a similar mechanism of substrate recognition. The role of the two amino acids, Phe379 and Trp388, in rat Glut1 corresponding to Tyr446 and Trp455 of Gal2 was therefore studied. Phe379 and Trp388 were individually replaced with each of the other 19 amino acids, and the mutant Glut1 transporters were expressed in yeast. The expression level of most mutants was similar to that of the wild-type Glut1, as revealed by immunoblot analysis. Glucose transport activity was assessed by reconstituting a crude membrane fraction of the yeast cells in liposomes. No significant glucose transport activity was observed with any of Trp388 mutants, whereas the Phe379 mutants showed reduced or no activity. These results indicate that the two aromatic amino acids in TM10 of Glut1 are important for glucose transport. However, unlike Gal2, the residue at the cytoplasmic end of TM10 (Trp388, corresponding to Trp455 of Gal2), rather than that in the middle of TM10 (Phe379, corresponding to Tyr446 of Gal2), is essential for transport activity.