Nucleotide sequences and secondary structures of four tRNA genes in mitochondrial DNA of Hansenula wingei yeast

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Hansenula wingei reveals new characteristics of yeast mitochondria

The complete 27,694-bp mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence of Hansenula wingei, which is a typical budding yeast and contains circular mitochondrial DNA, has been determined. The mt sequence contains genes encoding large and small ribosomal RNAs, 25 tRNAs, three subunits of cytochrome c oxidase (subunits 1, 2 and 3), three subunits of ATPase (subunits 6, 8 and 9), apocytochrome b, seven subunits of NADH dehydrogenase (subunits 1, 2, 3, 4, 4L, 5 and 6), and a ribosomal protein, VAR1. The VAR1 gene is considered to be a typical yeast type. This is consistent with data on DNA and the deduced amino-acid sequence homology comparisons of genes ubiquitous in yeast and fungi. However, we have identified seven genes encoding NADH dehydrogenase subunits, which are not found in other yeast mitochondrial genomes, thus placing the H. wingei mitochondrial genome in a unique position. In addition the H. wingei mitochondrial genome also encodes one tRNA pseudogene and one short unidentified ORF. The genome is compact with only two introns both of which contain an ORF. One intron lies in the large rRNA gene while the other is situated in the cytochrome c oxidase subunit-1 gene. The conserved nonanucleotide motif (A/T)TATAAG (T/A)(A/T), which is a transcription start signal in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria, has also been found in the H. wingei mitochondrial genome. The codon assignments for ATA and CTN in H. wingei mitochondria are different from those in S. cerevisiae mitochondria. These results indicate a unique and novel structure for the H. wingei mitochondrial genome in terms of characteristics which are typical for both yeast and for filamentous fungi. This is the first complete mt DNA sequence report in yeast.

The mitochondrial genome of yeast Hansenula wingei encodes NADH dehydrogenase subunit genes ND4L and ND5

Genes homologous to those encoding mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunits ND4L and ND5 in filamentous fungi were identified in the mitochondrial genome of a budding yeast, Hansenula wingei. The structure and expression of these genes were investigated. The H. wingei ND4L gene is 282 bp long, and potentially codes for a polypeptide of 94 amino acids. The putative ND4L protein sequence shares about 46% homology with the analogous mitochondrial proteins of filamentous fungi. The H. wingei ND5 gene is 1935 bp long, and encodes a 645-residue polypeptide. The derived ND5 protein shares about 38% sequence homology with the analogue in filamentous fungi. The ND4L and ND5 genes have no intervening sequence, and form a gene cluster in the order of 5'-ND4L-ND5-3'. A presumptive mature dicistronic or polycistronic transcript of these genes was detected by Northern blot hybridization. These results strongly indicate that these ND4L and ND5 genes are active. As far as we are aware, this is the first report on the identification of mitochondrially encoded ND genes in yeast.