Isolation and characterization of Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutants lacking aminopeptidase activity

A mutant strain of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe defective in aminopeptidase I was isolated by screening for lack of activity against the chromogenic substrate lysine-beta-naphthylamide in isolated colonies. Tetrad dissection of sporulated diploids heterozygous for the wild-type and mutant allele resulted in a 2:2 segregation of mutant and wild-type phenotype indicating a single chromosomal gene mutation. Gene dosage experiments indicated that the mutation might reside in the structural gene of aminopeptidase I. No vital consequences of aminopeptidase I deficiency on cell life and sporulation could be detected. However, the enzyme seems to be involved in protein degradation under conditions of nutrient deprivation.