TRK2 is required for low affinity K+ transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
TRK1, the gene encoding the high affinity K+ transporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is nonessential due to the existence of a functionally independent low affinity transporter. To identify the gene(s) encoding the low affinity K+ transporter, we screened trk1 delta cells for mutants (Kla-) that require higher concentrations of K+ in the medium to support growth. trk1 delta trk2 mutants require up to tenfold higher concentrations of K+ to exhibit normal growth compared to trk1 delta TRK2 cells. K+ and 86Rb+ transport assays demonstrate that the mutant phenotype is due to defective K+ transport (uptake). Each of 38 independent mutants contains a mutation in the same gene, TRK2. Cells deficient for both high and low affinity K+ transport (trk1 delta trk2) exhibit hypersensitivity to low extracellular pH that can be suppressed by high concentrations of K+ but not Na+. TRK1 completely suppresses both the K+ transport defect and low pH hypersensitivity of trk2 cells, suggesting that TRK1 and TRK2 are functionally independent.
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Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208.
Buckley
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AM
Gaber
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D000483:Alleles; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012413:Rubidium; D011188:Potassium