Nitrogen catabolite repression of asparaginase II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The biosynthesis of asparaginase II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is subject to strong catabolite repression by a variety of nitrogen compounds. In the present study, asparaginase II synthesis was examined in a wild-type yeast strain and in strains carrying gdhA, gdhCR, or gdhCS mutations. The following effects were observed: (i) In the wild-type strain, the biosynthesis of asparaginase II was strongly repressed when either 10 mM ammonium sulfate or various amino acids (10 mM) served as the source of nitrogen. (ii) In a yeast strain carrying the gdhA mutation, asparaginase II was synthesized at fully derepressed levels when 10 mM ammonium sulfate was the source of nitrogen. When amino acids (10 mM) served as the nitrogen source, asparaginase II synthesis was strongly repressed. (iii) In a strain carrying the gdhCR mutation, the synthesis of asparaginase II was partially (30 to 40%) derepressed when either 10 mM ammonium sulfate or amino acids were present in the medium. (iv) In a yeast strain containing both gdhA and gdhCR mutations, asparaginase II synthesis was fully derepressed when 10 mM ammonium sulfate was the nitrogen source and partially derepressed when 10 mM amino acids were present. (v) Yeast strains carrying the gdhCS mutation were indistinguishable from the wild-type strain with respect to asparaginase II synthesis.