The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for yeast adenylate kinase

The structural gene for yeast adenylate kinase (AKY) has been isolated and analyzed with respect to its nucleotide sequence. Southern and northern analyses imply that the gene is single copy and is transcribed into an mRNA of about 1,100 bases. The flanking regions of the gene contain the canonical elements typical for initiation and termination of transcription of yeast protein coding genes. The amino acid primary structure deduced from the open reading frame is identical with the protein sequence reported for yeast adenylate kinase (Tomasselli et al. 1986) with the exception of an extension of two amino acids (Met-Ser) at the N-terminus and aspartic acid instead of asparagine at the carboxyl end. Yeast adenylate kinase reveals a striking homology with both the mammalian cytosolic and, particularly, with the mitochondrial isozyme. It has an insertion of 31 amino acids in the middle segment of the protein, when compared to the cytosolic version of the mammalian enzyme. A strikingly conserved insert sequence of the same length and at exactly the same position is present in the mammalian mitochondrial isozyme. The question of the subcellular location of the yeast enzyme is discussed.