TRK1 encodes a plasma membrane protein required for high-affinity potassium transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
We identified a 180-kilodalton plasma membrane protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae required for high-affinity transport (uptake) of potassium. The gene that encodes this putative potassium transporter (TRK1) was cloned by its ability to relieve the potassium transport defect in trk1 cells. TRK1 encodes a protein 1,235 amino acids long that contains 12 potential membrane-spanning domains. Our results demonstrate the physical and functional independence of the yeast potassium and proton transport systems. TRK1 is nonessential in S. cerevisiae and maps to a locus unlinked to PMA1, the gene that encodes the plasma membrane ATPase. Haploid cells that contain a null allele of TRK1 (trk1 delta) rely on a low-affinity transporter for potassium uptake and, under certain conditions, exhibit energy-dependent loss of potassium, directly exposing the activity of a transporter responsible for the efflux of this ion.
D001483:Base Sequence; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009154:Mutation; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011188:Potassium