title: Isolation and characterization of the gene (CLS1) encoding cardiolipin synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: In eukaryotic cells, cardiolipin (CL) synthase catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of CL from phosphatidylglycerol and CDP-diacylglycerol. CL and its synthesis are localized predominantly to the mitochondrial inner membrane, and CL is generally thought to be an essential component of many mitochondrial processes. By using homology searches for genes potentially encoding phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes, we have cloned the gene (CLS1) encoding CL synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Overexpression of the CLS1 gene under its endogenous promoter or the inducible GAL1 promoter in yeast and expression of CLS1 in baculovirus-infected insect cells resulted in elevated CL synthase activity. Disruption of the CLS1 gene in a haploid yeast strain resulted in the loss of CL synthase activity, no detectable CL, a 5-fold elevation in phosphatidylglycerol levels, and lack of staining of mitochondria by a dye with high affinity for CL. The cls1::TRP1 null mutant grew on both fermentable and non-fermentable carbon sources but more poorly on the latter. The level and activity of cytochrome c oxidase was normal, and a dye whose accumulation is dependent on membrane proton electrochemical potential effectively stained the mitochondria. These results definitively identify the gene encoding the CL synthase of yeast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas 77225, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Heacock
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mileykovskaya
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Voelker
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dowhan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002308:Cardiolipins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; C011786:2-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-1-methylpyridinium; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups); C100091:cardiolipin synthetase