Candida albicans homologue of GGP1/GAS1 gene is functional in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and contains the determinants for glycosylphosphatidylinositol attachment

The GGP1/GAS1/CWH52 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a major exocellular 115 kDa glycoprotein (gp115) anchored to the plasma membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). The function of gp115 is still unknown but the analysis of null mutants suggests a possible role in the control of morphogenesis. PHR1 gene isolated from Candida alibicans is homologous to the GGP1 gene. In this report we have analysed the ability of PHR1 to complement a ggp1Δ mutation in S. cerevisiae. The expression of PHR1 controlled by its natural promoter or by the GGP1 promoter has been studied. In both cases we have observed a complete complementation of the mutant phenotype. Moreover, immunological analysis has revealed that PHR1 in budding yeast gives rise to a 75–80 kDa protein anchored to the membrane through a GPI, indicating that the signal for GPI attachment present in the C. albicans gene product is functional in S. cerevisiae.     

Isolation and Characterization of the Candida albicans PFY1 Gene for Profilin

We have isolated the Candida albicans gene for profilin, PFY1. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on regions of high homology were utilized to obtain a polymerase chain reaction-amplified copy of the gene. This was then used as a probe to isolate the gene from a C. albicans genomic library. Our studies indicate that the full-length gene is unstable in Escherichia coli. Several clones were sequenced, and the predicted amino acid sequence demonstrated homology with profilin proteins from other organisms, most notably Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Northern analysis revealed that the gene is expressed in C. albicans. Attempts to express the gene in S. cerevisiae cells were unsuccessful until the C. albicans promoter was replaced with an S. cerevisiae promoter. Functional complementation of the gene was demonstrated in S. cerevisiae profilin-requiring cells. Antibodies raised to isolated C. albicans profilin protein recognized a protein of the predicted molecular weight when the gene was expressed in S. cerevisiae cells. The sequence of the C. albicans PFY1 gene has been deposited in the Genome Sequence database under Accession Number L3783. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5·8S rDNA and adjacent ITS2 region of Candida albicans and related species

We have determined the nucleotide sequence for the DNA encoding the 5·8S RNAs and downstream internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) regions for Candida albicans and the taxonomically related species C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. Phylogenetic analysis of all known fungal 5·8S RNA sequences revealed a close relationship between C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, and to a lesser extent C. albicans within the yeast-like fungi. This group can itself be delineated from predominantly filamentous species. The more distal relationships between Candida (torulopsis) glabrata and C. krusei support previous findings based on small (18S) ribosomal RNA sequence analysis, suggesting a greater degree of evolutionary divergence of these species from the C. albicans group. Among strains of C. albicans we observed conservation of the ITS2 region of the nucleotide level. Conservation was also observed for a more limited number of C. parapsilosis strains. Although the 3′ region of the ITS spacer was species specific, sequence homology was observed in the 5′ end within the albicans/parapsilosis/tropicalis group. Our findings suggest a rapid approach to species identification through the use of non-conserved regions flanked by highly conserved, functional domains.     

Sequence,map position and genome organization of the RPL17B gene,encoding ribosomal protein L17b in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sequence analysis of the newly defined SSU81 gene revealed an adjacent open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein whose deduced amino acid sequence is identical to that of ribosomal protein L17. The DNA sequence of this region is different from that of the RPL17A gene and therefore represents a duplicate gene encoding L17. We have designated this gene RPL17B. The RPL17B coding region is split by an intron that occurs in the same position (codons 14/15) as the intron in RPL17A. The RPL17B promoter region includes two TATA boxes, a canonical UAS_RPG motif, and several pyrimidine-rich tracts. RPL17B was mapped by CHEF and lambda clone grid hybridization blots to the right arm of chromosome V, linked to the TRP2 and RAD51 genes. A partial ORF was identified adjacent to RPL17B and SSU81 that is homologous to an ORF (designated A509) physically linked to RPL17A. This observation, and the identical position of the introns within the RPL17 genes, suggest that one RPL17 locus arose by duplication and translocation of the other. The complete 3·8 kbp DNA sequence encompassing RPL17B has been entered in the GenBank data library under Accession Number U15653.     

Sequence and Analysis of a 36·2 kb Fragment from the Right Arm of Yeast Chromosome XV Reveals 19 Open Reading Frames Including SNF2 (5′ end), CPA1, SLY41, a Putative Transport ATPase,a Putative Ribosomal Protein and an SNF2 Homologue

The complete sequence of a 36 196 bp DNA segment located on the right arm of chromosome XV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been determined and analysed. The sequence includes the 5′ coding region of the SNF2 gene, the CPA1 leader peptide sequence and 17 open reading frames (ORFs) of at least 100 amino acids. Two of these correspond to previously known genes (CPA1, SLY41), whereas 15 correspond to new genes. The putative translation products of three ORFs show significant similarity with known proteins: one is a putative transport ATPase, another appears to be a ribosomal protein, and the third is an Snf2p homologue. The sequence has been deposited in the EMBL databank under Accession Numbers: Z75198, Z75199, Z75200, Z75201, Z75202, Z75203, Z75204, Z75205, Z75206, Z75207, Z75209, Z75210, Z75211, Z75212, Z75213, Z75214, Z75215, Z75216. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Genes Encoding the Transcription Factor yTAFII60, the G4p1 Protein and a Putative Glucose Transporter are Contained in a 12·3 kb DNA Fragment on the Left Arm of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chromosome VII

We report the nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment of 12 325 base pairs from the left arm of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome VII. Inspection of the coding capacity revealed 11 open reading frames (ORFs) longer than 100 amino acids. Five ORFs are significantly homologous to known proteins. The region encoding ORF G2985 corresponds (100%) to the gene encoding the yeast TATA binding protein-associated factor TAF_II60. The G3075 ORF is 47·8% identical to the hypothetical yeast protein YB88. G3080 shows 36·7% identity to the eel calmodulin. G3085 shows 94·9% identity with the published sequence of the quadruplex DNA binding protein G4p1. G3090 reveals 46·7% identity with the probable glucose transport protein yBR1625. The DNA sequence has been submitted to the EMBL data library under Accession Number X97644. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Purification and characterisation of the 7S globulin storage protein from sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The 7S globulin from sesame seeds was purified by means of selective precipitation and anion-exchange chromatography on Q Sepharose Fast Flow. The 7S globulin migrated as a single band on native PAGE, which suggested homogeneity of the sample. The isolated protein was composed of at least eight polypeptide chains, ranging from 12.4 to 65.5 kDa, judged by SDS–PAGE analysis, and did not contain disulphide bonds. Furthermore, comparison of the polypeptide bands of the 7S and 11S globulins by SDS–PAGE indicated that the purified 7S globulin was free of legumin-like contaminant polypeptides and of 2S albumin. The identity of the purified polypeptides was verified by comparing the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the main polypeptide bands with the amino acid sequence deduced from a cDNA clone, which encoded the sesame 7S globulin precursor. Purification of the 7S globulin from sesame has not previously been reported.     

Sequence Analysis of a 33·2 kb Segment from the Left Arm of Yeast Chromosome XV Reveals Eight Known Genes and Ten New Open Reading Frames Including Homologues of ABC Transporters,Inositol Phosphatases and Human Expressed Sequence Tags

The complete nucleotide sequence of a 33 221 bp segment, contained in cosmid pEOA1044, derived from the left arm of chromosome XV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, appears in public databases between coordinates 177013 and 210234 (http://speedy.mips.biochem.mpg.de/). Computer analysis of that sequence revealed the presence of the previously known genes IRA2, DEC1, NUF2, HST1, RTG1, RIB2 and HAL2, one previously partially sequenced open reading frame (ORF) of unknown function (SCORFAC) and ten newly identified ORFs. One of the new ORFs is similar to the Drosophila melanogaster white gene and other transmembrane ABC transporters, another one has similarities to inositol phosphatases and others are similar to ORFs of unknown function from various organisms, including human Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs). Potential transmembrane regions, ATP/GTP-binding and WD motifs have also been identified. The existence of yeast ESTs for two of the newly identified ORFs indicates that they are transcribed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.