The Transcriptional Activator Imp2p Maintains Ion Homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

[摘要] Yeast cells deficient in the transcriptional activator Imp2p are viable, but display marked hypersensitivity to a variety of oxidative agents. We now report that imp2 null mutants are also extremely sensitive to elevated levels of the monovalent ions, Na+ and Li+, as well as to the divalent ions Ca2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+, but not to Cd2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+, as compared to the parent strain. We next searched for multicopy suppressor genes that would allow the imp2 Δ mutant to grow under high salt conditions. Two genes that independently restored normal salt-resistance to the imp2 Δ mutant, ENA1 and HAL3 , were isolated. ENA1 encodes a P-type ion pump involved in monovalent ion efflux from the cell, while HAL3 encodes a protein required for activating the expression of Ena1p. Neither ENA1 nor HAL3 gene expression was positively regulated by Imp2p. Moreover, the imp2 ena1 double mutant was exquisitely sensitive to Na+/Li+ cations, as compared to either single mutant, implying that Imp2p mediates Na+/Li+ cation homeostasis independently of Ena1p.

[学科分类] 医学（综合）