Characterization of DhKHA1, a gene coding for a putative Na(+) transporter from Debaryomyces hansenii.

The KHA1 gene from Debaryomyces hansenii has been identified and characterized by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene is orthologous to ScKHA1, previously reported in S. cerevisiae, and on the basis of the deduced amino acid sequence, DhKha1p can be classified as an Na(+)/H(+) transporter. Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR experiments indicated that the expression level of DhKHA1 was not dependent on high pH or on the presence of a high salt level in the growth medium. Overexpression of DhKHA1 in a salt-sensitive S. cerevisiae mutant (ena1-4 nha1 kha1) rendered cells specifically more tolerant to Na(+). In addition, internal K(+) and Na(+) measurements and experiments performed with green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged DhKha1p indicated the intracellular localization of this protein when expressed in S. cerevisiae.

Intracellular Na and K distribution in Debaryomyces hansenii. Cloning and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of DhNHX1.

Debaryomyces hansenii is a salt-tolerant yeast that contains high amounts of internal Na(+). Debaryomyces hansenii kept more sodium than Saccharomyces cerevisiae in both the cytoplasm and vacuole when grown under a variety of NaCl concentrations. These results indicate a higher tolerance of Debaryomyces to high internal Na(+), and, in addition, suggest the existence of a transporter driving Na(+) into the vacuole. Moreover, a gene encoding a Na(+) (K(+))/H(+) antiporter from D. hansenii was cloned and sequenced. The gene, designated DhNHX1, exhibited significant homology with genes of the NHE/NHX family. DhNHX1 expression was induced neither at low pH nor by extracellular NaCl. A mutant of S. cerevisiae lacking its own Na(+) transporters (ena1-4Delta nha1 Delta nhx1 Delta), when transformed with DhNHX1, partially recovered cation tolerance as well as the ability to accumulate Na(+) and K(+) into the vacuole. Our analysis provides evidence that DhNhx1p transports Na(+) (and K(+)) into the vacuole and that it can play an important role in ion homeostasis and salt tolerance.

The Debaryomyces hansenii NHA1 gene encodes a plasma membrane alkali-metal-cation antiporter with broad substrate specificity.

Debaryomyces hansenii is a yeast species often found in salty environments. Its genome sequence is known completely, but the mechanisms behind its halotolerance are poorly understood. In the D. hansenii genome, there is a gene strongly homologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae NHA1 gene (encoding a plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter). We isolated this DhNHA1 gene from two D. hansenii strains (CBS 767 and CBS 1793) differing in their osmotolerance. Both DhNHA1 alleles were heterologously expressed in a S. cerevisiae strain lacking its own systems for the efflux of alkali metal cations (BW31a, ena1-4delta nha1delta). D. hansenii Na+/H+ antiporters were localized in the plasma membrane of BW31a cells, their presence increased BW31a tolerance to sodium, potassium, lithium and also rubidium. Measurements of Na+ and K+ efflux from S. cerevisiae cells expressing DhNHA1 alleles show that the D. hansenii antiporters efficiently transported both cations out of cells. The sodium and potassium transport activity of Nha1 antiporters from both D. hansenii strains was almost identical, indicating that plasma membrane antiporter activity is not one of the factors determining the different levels of halotolerance in the two strains.