Accumulation of exoglucanase activity in yeast secretory mutants blocked at the endoplasmic reticulum level

Two ionic forms of exoglucanase in yeast secretory mutants

Analysis of exoglucanase activity accumulated by sec mutants from Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed the presence of two ionic forms of the major exoglucanase (exo II) secreted into the culture medium. From the accumulation pattern of representative sec mutants and the carbohydrate composition it appears that the less acidic form is converted into the more acidic one by addition of one phosphate to one of the oligosaccharide cores as the enzyme progresses through the secretory pathway. Exoglucanase I, the heavier isoenzyme, was not accumulated by the mutants. Accordingly, it should arise from exoglucanase II after the execution point of sec1 mutation.

Preliminary evidence for a glucan acceptor in the yeast Candida albicans

Two membrane preparation containing glucan synthase activity were obtained by lysis of regenerating sphaeroplasts (enzyme A) or mechanical breakage (enzyme B) of yeast (Candida albicans) cells. The reaction products of both enzymes (glucans A and B respectively) were characterized as linear beta-1,3-linked glucans on the basis of chemical and enzymic analysis. In addition, two pools of glucan could be distinguished in glucan A preparations on the basis of their susceptibility to an exoglucanase. In no case were the reaction products synthesized de novo; rather the radioactive chains were added to the non-reducing end of non-radioactive preformed glucan chains or to an acceptor of a different nature. At least some of the performed chains of glucan A, but not those of glucan B, showed a free reducing terminal. Glucan A preparations were endowed with endoglucanase activity, which, under appropriate conditions, released glucose, laminaribiose and laminaritriose. These sugars were also found in cell-wall autolysates. On the basis of the origin of both enzyme preparations it is suggested that glucan molecules are synthesized while they are bound to a non-glucan acceptor that is subsequently excised, presumably by cell-wall-associated glucanases.

Accumulation and secretion of exoglucanase activity in yeast secretory mutants

Representative conditional yeast secretory mutants, blocked in transport of secretory and plasma membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (sec 18), from the Golgi body (sec 7) and in transport of secretory vesicles (sec 1), accumulated exoglucanase, a constitutive yeast activity, when incubated at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C). Different proportions of the accumulated activity were released by mutant cells under permissive conditions. The presence or absence of cycloheximide during the secretion period made no differences in the results. More than 90% of the internal activity was bound to membrane in wild type cells. However, only the soluble pool underwent changes during the accumulation or secretion periods. The bulk of secretory invertase accumulated by sec 1 was also soluble. By contrast sec 7 and sec 18 accumulated membrane-bound as well as soluble invertase forms and both were secreted in similar proportions in each mutant. More than 90% of the accumulated invertase was secreted at the permissive temperature in sec 18 cells. That percentage was significantly lower for exoglucanase (less than 65%). Concomitantly, invertase accumulated by this mutant exited from the cells with a lower half time (t1/2 = 24 min) than accumulated exoglucanase (t1/2 = 150 min). These results may be interpreted assuming that exoglucanase is exported by a passive flow of the soluble pool.