Phosphofructokinase mutants of yeast. Biochemistry and genetics

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae completely lacking the soluble glycolytic enzyme fructose-6-P kinase are described. The mutations are semidominant, do not complement one another, and define a gene PFK1 located 28-cm distal to rna1 on the extended right arm of chromosome XIII. Of 10 independent mutants, 3 can be suppressed by ochre suppressors. All mutants examined synthesize proteins that cross-react to the antibody against the purified yeast P-fructokinase. The enzyme in spontaneous revertants is distinguishable from the wild type enzyme with respect to thermolability and ATP inhibition. The locus PFK1 thus defines the structural gene of the enzyme. The pfk1 mutants are not leaky in vivo. All the glucose consumed by a double mutant lacking both P-fructokinase and 6-P-gluconate dehydrogenase ends up as 6-P-gluconate, yet the pfk1 mutants can glycolyze and grow on glucose in air. The cell mass produced per unit of glucose also remains unchanged. Anaerobically, however, growth does not take place, nor does glycolysis. P-fructokinase is thus a dispensable enzyme for aerobic growth, but indispensable for anaerobic growth. The properties of pfk1 mutants suggest that yeast has an alternative mechanism for the aerobic metabolism of fructose-6-P, presumably through the recently reported particulate P-fructokinase (Lobo, Z., and Maitra, P. K. (1982) FEBS Lett. 137, 279-282).