Phosphatase activity during growth of Yarrowia lipolytica

Functional Interaction between the N and C Termini of NhaD Antiporters from Halomonas sp. Strain Y2

Two NhaD-type antiporters, NhaD1 and NhaD2, from the halotolerant and alkaliphilic Halomonas sp. strain Y2, exhibit different physiological functions in regard to Na⁺ and Li⁺ resistance, although they share high sequence identity. In the present study, the truncation of an additional 4 C-terminal residues from NhaD2 or an exchange of 39 N-terminal residues between these proteins resulted in the complete loss of antiporter activity. Interestingly, combining 39 N-terminal residues and 7 C-terminal residues of NhaD2 (N39D2-C7) partially recovered the activity for Na⁺ and Li⁺ expulsion, as well as complementary growth following exposure to 300 mM Na⁺ and 100 mM Li⁺ stress. The recovered activity of chimera N39D2-C7 indicated that the N and C termini are structurally dependent on each other and function synergistically. Furthermore, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis suggested that the N and C termini are relatively close in proximity which may account for their synergistic function in ion translocation. In the N-terminal region of N39D2-C7, the replacement of Glu³⁸ with Pro abolished the recovered complementary and transport activities. In addition, this amino acid substitution in NhaD2 resulted in a drastically decreased complementation ability in Escherichia coli KNabc (level identical to that of NhaD1), as well as decreased activity and an altered pH profile.IMPORTANCE Limited information on NhaD antiporters supports speculation that these antiporters are important for resistance to high salinity and alkalinity. Moreover, only a few functional residues have been identified in NhaD antiporters, and there is limited literature on the molecular mechanisms of NhaD antiporter activity. The altered antiporter abilities of chimeras and mutants in this study implicate the functions of the N and C termini, especially Glu³⁸, in pH regulation and ion translocation, and, most importantly, the essential roles of this negatively charged residue in maintaining the physiological function of NhaD2. These findings further our understanding of the molecular mechanism of NhaD antiporters for ion transport.

Evaluation of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria for phosphate solubilization

Thirteen pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic (PPFM) strains isolated from Adyar and Cooum rivers in Chennai and forest soil samples in Tamil Nadu, India, along with Methylobacterium extorquens, M. organophilum, M. gregans, and M. komagatae were screened for phosphate solubilization in plates. P-solubilization index of the PPFMs grown on NBRIP-BPB plates for 7 days ranged from 1.1 to 2.7. The growth of PPFMs in tricalcium phosphate amended media was found directly proportional to the glucose concentration. Higher phosphate solubilization was observed in four strains MSF 32 (415 mg l(-l)), MDW 80 (301 mg l(-l)), M. komagatae (279 mg l(-l)), and MSF 34 (202 mg l(-l)), after 7 days of incubation. A drop in the media pH from 6.6 to 3.4 was associated with an increase in titratable acidity. Acid phosphatase activity was more pronounced in the culture filtrate than alkaline phosphatase activity. Adherence of phosphate to densely grown bacterial surface was observed under scanning electron microscope after 7-day-old cultures. Biochemical characterization and screening for methanol dehydrogenase gene (mxaF) confirmed the strains as methylotrophs. The mxaF gene sequence from MSF 32 clustered towards M. lusitanum sp. with 99% similarity. This study forms the first detailed report on phosphate solubilization by the PPFMs.

Soluble protein and acid phosphatase exuded by ectomycorrhizal fungi and seedlings in response to excessive Cu and Cd

Fungi and their symbionts can alleviate heavy metal stress by exuding soluble proteins and enzymes. This study examined the role of soluble protein and acid phosphatase (APase) exuded by Xerocomus chrysenteron, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, and the seedlings of its symbiont, Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis), under conditions of excessive Cu and Cd. The growth type showed that this poorly studied ectomycorrhizal fungus was capable of tolerating high concentrations of Cu, and may be useful in phytoremediation. X. chrysenteron grew well at 80 mg/L Cu, and the EC50 for Cd was 17.82 mg/L. X. chrysenteron also showed enhanced exudation of soluble protein in both isolated and inoculated cultivations under the influence of Cu and Cd. Soluble protein exudation, however, differed under Cu and Cd stress in isolates. In mediums containing Cu, soluble protein exudation increased with concentration, but in mediums containing Cd the content of soluble protein increased to a comparable level at all concentrations. This study demonstrated that soluble protein was related to heavy metal tolerance, although the different ions played different roles. While APase activity in exudates of fungi and seedlings decreased under Cu and Cd stress in comparison to the control, the APase activity in seedlings was maintained by inoculation. Thus, X. chrysenteron facilitated the ability of plant to maintain a normal nutrient uptake, and therefore to protect it from heavy metal toxicity.

Characterization of major protein phosphatases from selected species of Kluyveromyces. Comparison with protein phosphatases from Yarrowia lipolytica

Casein phosphatase activities have been identified in five yeast strains grown on Pi-deficient medium. Maximal endocellular activities appeared in the exponential phase. Exocellular phosphatases were significantly produced from Yarrowia lipolytica W-29 and Kluyveromyces marxianus, in the early stationary phase. Major phosphatases from K. marxianus were one heavy acid phosphatase composed of 64-67 kDa subunits, which could be secreted in the medium, and one type 2A protein phosphatase with an apparent molecular mass of 147 kDa and a 52 kDa catalytic subunit dissociated by 80% ethanol treatment. The characteristics of phosphatases purified from K. marxianus were compared with those previously purified from Y. lipolytica.

Time-co-ordinated control of glycogen synthase, protein phosphatase 2A and protein kinase CK2 during culture growth in Yarrowia lipolytica in relation to glycogen metabolism

In the growth course of the lipolytic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, the activities of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glycogen synthase (GS) rise during the exponential phase and concomitantly glycogen storage occurs in the cells. There is also an increase in the independence ratio (RI) indicating a shift from an inactive phosphorylated GS form to an active dephosphorylated GS form. During the early stationary phase, an increase in protein kinase CK2 (CK2) activity, a reversion of RI variation and a glycogen content decrease are observed. GS activity proved to be a good indicator of early culture growth phase. Experiments carried out with enzymes purified from Y. lipolytica show strong RI variations upon the action of CK2 and PP2Ac, and 32P incorporation into GS protein through phosphorylation by CK2. GS activity would be controlled by the sequential action of PP2A and CK2.

Characterization of an exocellular protein phosphatase with dual substrate specificity from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

In previous work, the major endocellular protein phosphatase activity has been identified in the secretory yeast Yarrowia lipolytica as a PP2A. The aim of the present work was to seek the presence of one protein phosphatase excreted in the exocellular medium and to study its activity during yeast growth in media supplemented or not supplemented with inorganic phosphate. Protein phosphatase was purified and activity was assayed by following the dephosphorylation of three substrates, [32P]casein, phosphotyrosine and a synthetic tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide. Phosphatase activity recovered in the medium after 25 h culture was greatly enhanced by Pi-deficiency. After several purification steps, the enzyme preparation presents an apparent electrophoretic homogeneity on SDS-PAGE with associated phosphoseryl/threonyl and phosphotyrosyl activities. The kinetic properties exclude contamination by a copurified protein and it is concluded that the two activities are carried by the same single proteic species. It was characterized by gel filtration as a 33 kDa protein with one single subunit demonstrated by SDS-PAGE. An absolute requirement for reducing-agents is observed suggesting that the enzyme contains at least one essential reactive cysteinyl residue. Optimum pH value is 6.1, apparent K(m) for phosphotyrosine was calculated to be 760 microM and Hill coefficient 3.2 indicating a rather high cooperativity. These results showed that the involvement of alkaline and/or acid phosphatase was unlikely. In conclusion, a protein phosphatase distinct from endocellular PP2A is secreted by Yarrowia lipolytica and characterized as a phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase with associated phosphoseryl/threonyl activity.

A specific alkaline phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with protein phosphatase activity

In this paper, specific PHO13 alkaline phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was demonstrated to possess phosphoprotein phosphatase activity on the phosphoseryl proteins histone II-A and casein. The enzyme is a monomeric protein with molecular mass of 60 kDa and hydrolyzes p-nitrophenyl phosphate with maximal activity at pH 8.2 with strong dependence on Mg2+ ions and an apparent Km of 3.6 x 10(-5) M. No other substrates tested except phosphorylated histone II-A and casein were hydrolyzed at any significant rate. These data suggest that the physiological role of the p-nitrophenyl phosphate-specific phosphatase may involve participation in reversible protein phosphorylation. 1988 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Purification and characterization of a type 2A protein phosphatase from Yarrowia lipolytica grown on a phosphate-deficient medium

Intracellular protein phosphatase activity has been identified in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. This activity was maximal early in its exponential growth phase, and it was enhanced by Pi-deficiency of the culture medium. On a Pi-deficient medium, the major protein phosphatase was purified. This enzyme was dissociated with 80% ethanol treatment, its activity was slightly increased (30%) with heparine and largely enhanced (1.5 to 3-fold) with polycations. This enzyme could be classified as a type 2A protein phosphatase. It is composed of a catalytic subunit and other subunits. Its optimum pH value is 7.2, the apparent Km for casein is 37 microM and the apparent velocity 3.6 pmol hydrolyzed32 Pi min-1 pmol-1 enzyme.