Abstract
Cystinosis is a lysosomal storage disease caused by an accumulation of insoluble cystine in the lumen of the lysosome. CTNS encodes the lysosomal cystine transporter, mutations in which manifest as a range of disorders and are the most common cause of inherited renal Fanconi syndrome. Cystinosin, the CTNS product, is highly conserved among mammals. Here we show that the yeast Ers1 protein and cystinosin are functional orthologues, despite sharing only limited sequence homology. Ers1 is a vacuolar protein whose loss of function results in growth sensitivity to hygromycin B. This phenotype can be complemented by the human CTNS gene but not by mutant ctns alleles that were previously identified in cystinosis patients. A genetic screen for multicopy suppressors of an ers1Delta yeast strain identified a novel gene, MEH1, which is implicated in regulating Ers1 function. Meh1 localizes to the vacuolar membrane and loss of MEH1 results in a defect in vacuolar acidification, suggesting that the vacuolar environment is critical for normal ERS1 function. This genetic system has also led us to identify Gtr1 as an Meh1 interacting protein. Like Meh1 and Ers1, Gtr1 associates with vacuolar membranes in an Meh1-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the utility of yeast as a model system for the study of CTNS and vacuolar function.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral
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Cystine / metabolism*
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Endosomes / metabolism
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Genetic Complementation Test
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Glycoproteins / chemistry
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Glycoproteins / genetics
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Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Humans
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Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
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Lysosomes / metabolism*
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Mutation
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism*
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Protein Structure, Secondary
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
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Vacuoles / chemistry
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Vacuoles / metabolism
Substances
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Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral
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CTNS protein, human
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ERS1 protein, S cerevisiae
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Glycoproteins
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Gtr1 protein, S cerevisiae
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MEH1 protein, S cerevisiae
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Membrane Proteins
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Protein Isoforms
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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Cystine
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Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins