title: The Hansenula polymorpha PER9 gene encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein essential for peroxisome assembly and integrity.
abstract: We have cloned and characterized the Hansenula polymorpha PER9 gene by functional complementation of the per9-1 mutant of H. polymorpha, which is defective in peroxisome biogenesis. The predicted product, Per9p, is a polypeptide of 52 kDa with sequence similarity to Pas3p, a protein involved in peroxisome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a per9 disruption strain (Deltaper9), peroxisomal matrix and membrane proteins are present at wild-type levels. The matrix proteins accumulated in the cytoplasm. However, the location of the membrane proteins remained obscure; fully induced Deltaper9 cells lacked residual peroxisomal vesicles ("ghosts"). Analysis of the activity of the PER9 promoter revealed that PER9 expression was low in cells grown on glucose, but was enhanced during growth of cells on peroxisome-inducing substrates. The highest expression levels were observed in cells grown on methanol. Localization studies revealed that Per9p is an integral membrane protein of the peroxisome. Targeting studies suggested that Per9p may be sorted to the peroxisome via the endoplasmic reticulum. Overexpression of PER9 induced a significant increase in the number of peroxisomes per cell, a result that suggests that Per9p may be involved in peroxisome proliferation and/or membrane biosynthesis. When PER9 expression was placed under the control of a strongly regulatable promoter and switched off, peroxisomes were observed to disintegrate over time in a manner that suggested that Per9p may be required for maintenance of the peroxisomal membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Biological Centre, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baerends
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hilbrands
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Heide
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Reuvekamp
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kiel
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cregg
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: van der Klei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veenhuis
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008830:Microbodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000074401:Peroxins; D010843:Pichia / Q000235:genetics*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C070895:PEX3 protein, S cerevisiae; D000074401:Peroxins; C406793:SPF1 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins