Bacterial overexpression of putative yeast mitochondrial transport proteins

J Bioenerg Biomembr. 1997 Dec;29(6):541-7. doi: 10.1023/a:1022426900735.

Abstract

Thirty-two genes have been identified within the genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which putatively encode mitochondrial transport proteins. We have attempted to overexpress a subset of these genes, namely those which encode mitochondrial transporters of unknown function, and have succeeded in overexpressing 19 of these genes. The overexpressed proteins were then isolated and tested for five well-characterized reconstituted transport activities (i.e., the transport of citrate, dicarboxylates, pyruvate, camitine, and aspartate). Utilizing this approach, we have clearly identified the yeast mitochondrial dicarboxylate transport protein, as well as two additional lower-magnitude transport functions (i.e., tricarboxylate and dicarboxylate transport activities). The implications of these results and the considerations relevant to this approach are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins