A screening for high copy suppressors of the sit4 hal3 synthetically lethal phenotype reveals a role for the yeast Nha1 antiporter in cell cycle regulation

A screening for multicopy suppressors of the G(1)/S blockage of a conditional sit4 hal3 mutant yielded the NHA1 gene, encoding a Na(+),K(+)/H(+) antiporter, composed of a transmembrane domain and a large carboxyl-terminal tail, which has been related to cation detoxification processes. Expression of either the powerful Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ena1 Na(+)/H(+)-ATPase or the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Sod2 Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, although increasing tolerance to sodium, was unable to mimic the Nha1 function in the cell cycle. Mutation of the conserved Asp residues Asp(266)-Asp(267) selectively abolished Na(+) efflux without modifying K(+) efflux and did not affect the capacity of Nha1 to relieve the G(1) blockage. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that the region near the carboxyl-terminal end of Nha1 comprising residues 800-948 is dispensable for sodium detoxification but necessary for transport of K(+) cations. Therefore, this portion of the protein contains structural elements that selectively modulate Nha1 antiporter functions. This region is also required for Nha1 to function in the cell cycle. However, expression of the closely related Cnh1 antiporter from Candida albicans, which also contains a long carboxyl-terminal extension, although allowing efficient K(+) transport does not relieve cell cycle blockage. This indicates that although the determinants for Nha1-mediated regulation of potassium transport and the cell cycle map very closely in the protein, most probably the function of Nha1 on cell cycle is independent of its ability to extrude potassium cations.     

The Na+,K+/H+ -antiporter Nha1 influences the plasma membrane potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

There are three different sodium transport systems (Ena1-4p, Nha1p, Nhx1p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The effect of their absence on the tolerance to alkali-metal cations and on the membrane potential was studied. All three sodium transporters were found to participate in the maintenance of Na+, Li+, K+ and Cs+ homeostasis. Measurements of the distribution of a fluorescent potentiometric probe (diS-C3(3) assay) in cell suspensions showed that the lack of all three transporters depolarizes the plasma membrane. The overexpression of the Na+,K+/H+ antiporter Nha1 resulted in the hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and consequently increased the sensitivity to Cs+, Tl+ and hygromycin B. This is the first evidence that the activity of a Na+,K+/H+ antiporter could play a role in the homeostatic regulation of the plasma membrane potential in yeast cells.     

Plasma-membrane hyperpolarization diminishes the cation efflux via Nha1 antiporter and Ena ATPase under potassium-limiting conditions

Saccharomyces cerevisiae extrudes K(+) cations even when potassium is only present in scarce amounts in the environment. Lost potassium is taken up by the Trk1 and Trk2 uptake systems. If the Trk transporters are absent or nonfunctional, the efflux of potassium is significantly diminished. A series of experiments with strains lacking various combinations of potassium efflux and uptake systems revealed that all three potassium-exporting systems the Nha1 antiporter, Ena ATPase and Tok1 channel contribute to potassium homeostasis and are active upon potassium limitation in wild-type cells. In trk1Δ trk2Δ mutants, the potassium efflux via potassium exporters Nha1 and Ena1 is diminished and can be restored either by the expression of TRK1 or deletion of TOK1. In both cases, the relative hyperpolarization of trk1Δ trk2Δ cells is decreased. Thus, it is the plasma-membrane potential which serves as the common mechanism regulating the activity of K(+) exporting systems. There is a continuous uptake and efflux of potassium in yeast cells to regulate their membrane potential and thereby other physiological parameters, and the cells are able to quickly and efficiently compensate for a malfunction of potassium transport in one direction by diminishing the transport in the other direction.     

Structurally and functionally conserved domains in the diverse hydrophilic carboxy-terminal halves of various yeast and fungal Na+/H+ antiporters (Nha1p)

Genes encoding the Na(+)/H(+) antiporter (Nha1p) from Candida tropicalis (C.t.), Hansenula anomala (H.a.) (also named Pichia anomala), and Aspergillus nidulans (A.n.) were cloned, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. The deduced primary sequences revealed highly conserved hydrophobic regions and rather diverse hydrophilic regions. Among the seven known Nha1p sequences, Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S.p.) Nha1p is exceptional in lacking the hydrophilic region. Within the diverse hydrophilic regions, we found six conserved regions (C1-C6). Expression of C.t. Nha1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S.c.) cells lacking NHA1 and ENA1 (Na(+)-ATPase) complemented the salinity-sensitive phenotype, suggesting that C.t. Nha1p is functionally related to S.c. Nha1p. Expression of various truncated forms of the C-terminal half of S.c. and C.t. Nha1p showed essentially the same phenotype for both species: deletion of the C4-C6 region caused cell growth to be more resistant to high salinity than the wild type, suggesting an inhibitory function of these domains on the antiporter activity. However, complete loss of C1-C6 caused a severe growth defect under conditions of high salinity, suggesting a defect in antiporter activity. The DeltaC2-C6 form of C.t. Nha1p, containing only C1, restored the retarded cell growth at high salinity more than the control vector alone, but to a value lower than the wild type. These results suggest an essential role for C1 and an activating role of the C2-C3 region in the functional expression of Nha1. High expression of the DeltaC2-C6 form of S.c. Nha1p was toxic for yeast cells, although low expression was not, suggesting that the overexpression of C1 is toxic. The results in this study suggest that the diverse hydrophilic region of yeast and fungal Nha1p has six conserved domains with conserved functions in terms of expression of Nha1p activity.     

Two cation transporters Ena1 and Nha1 cooperatively modulate ion homeostasis, antifungal drug resistance, and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans via the HOG pathway

Maintenance of cation homeostasis is essential for survival of all living organisms in their biological niches. It is also important for the survival of human pathogenic fungi in the host, where cation concentrations and pH will vary depending on different anatomical sites. However, the exact role of diverse cation transporters and ion channels in virulence of fungal pathogens remains elusive. In this study we functionally characterized ENA1 and NHA1, encoding a putative Na(+)/ATPase and Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, respectively, in Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete fungal pathogen which causes fatal meningoencephalitis. Expression of NHA1 and ENA1 is induced in response to salt and osmotic shock mainly in a Hog1-dependent manner. Phenotypic analysis of the ena1Δ, nha1Δ, and ena1Δnha1Δ mutants revealed that Ena1 controls cellular levels of toxic cations, such as Na(+) and Li(+) whereas both Ena1 and Nha1 are important for controlling less toxic K(+) ions. Under alkaline conditions, Ena1 was highly induced and required for growth in the presence of low levels of Na(+) or K(+) salt and Nha1 played a role in survival under K(+) stress. In contrast, Nha1, but not Ena1, was essential for survival at acidic conditions (pH 4.5) under high K(+) stress. In addition, Ena1 and Nha1 were required for maintenance of plasma membrane potential and stability, which appeared to modulate antifungal drug susceptibility. Perturbation of ENA1 and NHA1 enhanced capsule production and melanin synthesis. However, Nha1 was dispensable for virulence of C. neoformans although Ena1 was essential. In conclusion, Ena1 and Nha1 play redundant and discrete roles in cation homeostasis, pH regulation, membrane potential, and virulence in C. neoformans, suggesting that these transporters could be novel antifungal drug targets for treatment of cryptococcosis.     

The salt tolerant yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii possesses two plasma-membrane Na+/H+-antiporters (ZrNha1p and ZrSod2-22p) playing different roles in cation homeostasis and cell physiology

Antiporters exporting Na(+) and K(+) in exchange for protons are conserved among yeast species. The only exception so far has been Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, an osmotolerant species closely related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Z. rouxii was described as possessing one plasma-membrane antiporter transporting only Na(+) (ZrSod2-22p in the CBS 732(T) type strain). We report the characterization of a second gene, ZrNHA1, encoding a new K(+)(Na(+))/H(+)-antiporter capable of both K(+) and Na(+) export. Synteny analyses suggested that ZrSOD2-22 originated by single duplication of the ZrNHA1 gene. Substrate specificities and transport properties of ZrNha1p and ZrSod2-22p were compared upon heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae, and then directly in Z. rouxii. Deletion mutants and phenotype analyses revealed that ZrSod2-22 antiporter is important for Na(+) detoxification, probably together with ZrEna1 ATPase; ZrNha1p is indispensable to maintain potassium homeostasis and ZrEna1p is not, in contrast to the situation in S. cerevisiae, involved in this function.     

Yeast plasma membrane Ena1p ATPase alters alkali-cation homeostasis and confers increased salt tolerance in tobacco cultured cells

In plants, the plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) antiporter is the only key enzyme that extrudes cytosolic Na(+) and contributes to salt tolerance. But in fungi, the plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) antiporter and Na(+)-ATPase are known to be key enzymes for salt tolerance. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ena1p ATPase encoded by the ENA1/PMR2A gene is primarily responsible for Na(+) and Li(+) efflux across the plasma membrane during salt stress and for K(+) efflux at high pH and high K(+). To test if the yeast ATPase would improve salt tolerance in plants, we expressed a triple hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged Ena1p (Ena1p-3HA) in cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cv Bright Yellow 2 (BY2) cells. The Ena1p-3HA proteins were correctly localized to the plasma membrane of transgenic BY2 cells and conferred increased NaCl and LiCl tolerance to the cells. Under moderate salt stress conditions, the Ena1p-3HA-expressing BY2 clones accumulated lower levels of Na(+) and Li(+) than nonexpressing BY2 clones. Moreover, the Ena1p-3HA expressing BY2 clones accumulated lower levels of K(+) than nonexpressing cells under no-stress conditions. These results suggest that the yeast Ena1p can also function as an alkali-cation (Na(+), Li(+), and K(+)) ATPase and alter alkali-cation homeostasis in plant cells. We conclude that, even with K(+)-ATPase activity, Na(+)-ATPase activity of the yeast Ena1p confers increased salt tolerance to plant cells during salt stress.     

The contribution of mouse models to our understanding of systemic candidiasis

To maintain optimal intracellular concentrations of alkali-metal-cations, yeast cells use a series of influx and efflux systems. Nonconventional yeast species have at least three different types of efficient transporters that ensure potassium uptake and accumulation in cells. Most of them have Trk uniporters and Hak K(+)-H(+) symporters and a few yeast species also have the rare K(+) (Na(+))-uptake ATPase Acu. To eliminate surplus potassium or toxic sodium cations, various yeast species use highly conserved Nha Na(+) (K(+))/H(+) antiporters and Na(+) (K(+))-efflux Ena ATPases. The potassium-specific yeast Tok1 channel is also highly conserved among various yeast species and its activity is important for the regulation of plasma membrane potential.     

Mutagenesis analysis of the yeast Nha1 Na+/H+ antiporter carboxy-terminal tail reveals residues required for function in cell cycle

The yeast Nha1 Na(+),K(+)/H(+) antiporter may play an important role in regulation of cell cycle, as high-copy expression of the NHA1 gene is able to rescue the blockage at the G(1)/S transition of cells lacking Sit4 protein phosphatase and Hal3 activities. Interestingly, this function was independent of the role of the antiporter in improving tolerance to sodium cations, it required the integrity of a relatively large region (from residues 800 to 948) of its carboxy-terminal moiety, and was not performed by the fission yeast homolog antiporter Sod2, which lacks a carboxy-terminal tail. Here we show that a hybrid protein composed of the Sod2 antiporter fused to the carboxy-terminal half of Nha1 strongly increased sodium tolerance, but did not allow growth at high potassium nor did rescue growth of the sit4 hal3 conditional mutant strain. Deletion of Nha1 residues from 800 to 849, 900 to 925 or 926 to 954 abolished the function of Nha1 in cell cycle without affecting sodium tolerance. A screening for loss-of-function mutations at the 775-980 carboxy-terminal tail of Nha1 has revealed a number of residues required for function in cell cycle, most of them clustering in two regions, from residues 869 to 876 (cluster A) and 918 to 927 (cluster B). The later is rather conserved in other related antiporters, while the former is not.     

Functional study of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nha1p C-terminus

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells possess an alkali metal cation antiporter encoded by the NHA1 gene. Nha1p is unique in the family of yeast Na+/H+ antiporters on account of its broad substrate specificity (Na+, Li+, K+) and its long C-terminus (56% of the whole protein). In order to study the role of the C-terminus in Nha1p function, we constructed a series of 13 truncated NHA1 versions ranging from the complete one (2958 nucleotides, 985 amino acids) down to the shortest version (1416 nucleotides, 472 amino acids), with only 41 amino acid residues after the last putative transmembrane domain. Truncated NHA1 versions were expressed in an S. cerevisiae alkali metal cation-sensitive strain (B31; ena1-4Delta nha1Delta). We found that the entire Nha1p C-terminus domain is not necessary for either the proper localization of the antiporter in the plasma membrane or the transport of all four substrates (we identified rubidium as the fourth Nha1p substrate). Partial truncation of the C-terminus of about 70 terminal amino acids improves the tolerance of cells to Na+, Li+ and Rb+ compared with cells expressing the complete Nha1p. The presence of the neighbouring part of the C-terminus (amino acids 883-928), rich in aspartate and glutamate residues, is necessary for the maintenance of maximum Nha1p activity towards sodium and lithium. In the case of potassium, the participation of the long C-terminus in the regulation of intracellular potassium content is demonstrated. We also present evidence that the Nha1p C-terminus is involved in the cell response to sudden changes in environmental osmolarity.     

Oligomerization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Na+/H+ antiporter Nha1p: implications for its antiporter activity

The Na(+)/H(+) antiporter (Nha1p) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays an important role in intracellular pH and Na(+) homeostasis. Here, we show by co-precipitation of differently tagged Nha1p proteins expressed in the same cell that the yeast Nha1p l forms an oligomer. In vitro cross-linking experiments then revealed that Nha1p-FLAG is present in the membranes as a dimer. Differently tagged Nha1p proteins were also co-precipitated from sec18-1 mutant cells in which ER-to-Golgi traffic is blocked under non-permissive temperatures, suggesting that Nha1p may already dimerize in the ER membrane. When we over-expressed a mutant Nha1p with defective antiporter activity in cells that also express the wild-type Nha1p-EGFP fusion protein, we found impaired cell growth in highly saline conditions, even though the wild-type protein was appropriately expressed and localized correctly. Co-immunoprecipitation assays then showed the inactive Nha1p-FLAG mutant interacted with the wild-type Nha1p-EGFP protein. These results support the notion that Nha1p exists in membranes as a dimer and that the interaction of its monomers is important for its antiporter activity.     

Identification of conserved prolyl residue important for transport activity and the substrate specificity range of yeast plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporters

Yeast plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporters are divided according to their substrate specificity in two distinct subfamilies. To identify amino acid residues responsible for substrate specificity determination (recognition of K+), the Zygosaccharomyces rouxii Sod2-22 antiporter (non-transporting K+) was mutagenized and a collection of ZrSod2-22 mutants that improved the KCl tolerance of a salt-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was isolated. Several independent ZrSod2-22 mutated alleles contained the replacement of a highly conserved proline 145 with a residue containing a hydroxyl group (Ser, Thr). Site-directed mutagenesis of Pro145 proved that an amino acid with a hydroxyl group at this position is enough to enable ZrSod2-22p to transport K+. Simultaneously, the P145(S/T) mutation decreased the antiporter transport activity for both Na+ and Li+. Replacement of Pro145 with glycine resulted in a ZrSod2-22p with extremely low activity only for Na+, and the exchange of a charged residue (Asp, Lys) for Pro145 completely stopped the activity. Mutagenesis of the corresponding proline in the S. cerevisiae Nha1 antiporter (Pro146) confirmed that this proline of the fifth transmembrane domain is a critical residue for antiporter function. This is the first evidence that a non-polar amino acid residue is important for the substrate specificity and activity of yeast Nha antiporters.     

A conserved domain in the tail region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Na+/H+ antiporter (Nha1p) plays important roles in localization and salinity-resistant cell-growth

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Na(+)/H(+) antiporter Nha1p has a two-domain structure consisting of an N-terminal integral membrane region and a C-terminal cytoplasmic region. We previously identified six distinct cytoplasmic domains (C1-C6) conserved among yeast species and here we performed detailed structure-function analysis of the C1 domain (16 residues). Deletion of the C1 domain causes extensive inhibition of cell-growth under high salinity conditions. Mutants with single residue deletions or various amino acid substitutions affecting the C1 domain were analyzed with respect to salinity-dependent growth and Nha1p localization. The C1 domain was found to consist of two subdomains: (i) The first three N-proximal residues, which in conjunction with the integral membrane region play a crucial role in the targeting of Nha1p to the cytoplasmic membrane, and (ii) the portion between Leu-439 and Thr-449, which is not required for localization, but in which four residues (Gly-440, Arg-441, His-442, and Ile-446) affect salinity-sensitive cell-growth by possibly influencing the antiporter activity. Based on the overall similarity of the two-domain structure of Nha1p to that of mammalian Na(+)/H(+) antiporters, the functional importance of domains proximal to the membrane region is discussed.     

Mutants of Streptococcus faecalis sensitive to alkaline pH lack Na(+)-ATPase.

Alkali-sensitive mutants which grow at pH 7.5 but not at pH 9.5 in Na(+)-rich media were isolated from Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790. One of the mutants, designated Nak1, lacked activities of both Na(+)-stimulated ATPase and KtrII (active K+ uptake by sodium ATPase). These activities were restored in a spontaneous revertant designated Nak1R. Active sodium extrusion from Nak1 was observed at pH 7.0, which allows the cells to generate a proton potential, but not at pH 9.5, which reverses the proton potential, making it positive. Sodium extrusion at pH 7.0 was inhibited by addition of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and protonophores. Even at pH 9.5, Nak1 did grow well in Na(+)-poor media. In Na(+)-rich media at pH 7.5, growth of Nak1 but not that of 9790 was severely inhibited by a protonophore. These results indicate that mutant Nak1 lacks sodium ATPase but contains a sodium/proton antiporter and that sodium ATPase is essential for the growth of this organism at high pH in Na(+)-rich conditions.     

Characterization of the ion transport activity of the budding yeast Na+/H+ antiporter, Nha1p, using isolated secretory vesicles

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nha1p, a plasma membrane protein belonging to the monovalent cation/proton antiporter family, plays a key role in the salt tolerance and pH regulation of cells. We examined the molecular function of Nha1p by using secretory vesicles isolated from a temperature sensitive secretory mutant, sec4-2, in vitro. The isolated secretory vesicles contained newly synthesized Nha1p en route to the plasma membrane and showed antiporter activity exchanging H+ for monovalent alkali metal cations. An amino acid substitution in Nha1p (D266N, Asp-266 to Asn) almost completely abolished the Na+/H+ but not K+/H+ antiport activity, confirming the validity of this assay system as well as the functional importance of Asp-266, especially for selectivity of substrate cations. Nha1p catalyzes transport of Na+ and K+ with similar affinity (12.7 mM and 12.4 mM), and with lower affinity for Rb+ and Li+. Nha1p activity is associated with a net charge movement across the membrane, transporting more protons per single sodium ion (i.e., electrogenic). This feature is similar to the bacterial Na+/H+ antiporters, whereas other known eukaryotic Na+/H+ antiporters are electroneutral. The ion selectivity and the stoichiometry suggest a unique physiological role of Nha1p which is distinct from that of other known Na+/H+ antiporters.     

Physiological characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae kha1 deletion mutants

Maintenance of intracellular K+ homeostasis is one of the crucial requisites for the survival of yeast cells. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the high K+ content corresponds to a steady state between simultaneous influx and efflux across the plasma membrane. One of the transporters formerly believed to extrude K+ from the yeast cells (besides Ena1-4p and Nha1p) was named Kha1p and presumed as a putative plasma membrane K+/H+ antiporter. We prepared kha1 and tok1-kha1 deletion strains in the B31 and MAB 2d background. Both the strains contain the ena1-4 and nha1 deletions; that means they lack the main active sodium and potassium efflux systems. MAB 2d has additional trk1 and trk2 deletions, i.e. is impaired in active K+ uptake as well. We performed a large physiological study with these strains to specify the phenotype of kha1 deletion. In our experiments, no difference in K+ content or efflux was observed in strains lacking the KHA1 gene compared with control strains. Two main phenotype manifestations of the kha1 deletion were growth defect on high external pH and hygromycin sensitivity. The correlation between these phenotypes and the kha1 deletion was confirmed by plasmid complementation. Fluorescence microscopy of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Kha1p showed that this antiporter is localized preferentially intracellularly (in contrast to the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter Nha1p). Based on these findings, Kha1p is probably not localized in plasma membrane and does not mediate efflux of alkali metal cations from cells, but is important for the regulation of intracellular cation homeostasis and optimal pH control, similarly as the Nhx1p.     

Importance of the seryl and threonyl residues of the fifth transmembrane domain to the substrate specificity of yeast plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporters

The Zygosaccharomyces rouxii Na+/H+ antiporter Sod2-22p is a member of the subfamily of yeast plasma membrane Nha/Sod antiporters that do not recognize potassium as their substrate. A functional study of two ZrSod2-22p mutated versions that improved the tolerance of a S. cerevisiae alkali-metal-cation sensitive strain to high extracellular concentration of KCl identified two polar non-charged amino-acid residues in the fifth transmembrane domain, Thr141 and Ser150, as being involved in substrate recognition and transport in yeast Nha/Sod antiporters. A reciprocal substitution of amino-acid residues with a hydroxyl group at these positions, T141S or S150T, produced a broadened cation selectivity of the antiporter for K+, in addition to Na+ and Li+. Site-directed mutagenesis of Ser150 showed that while the replacement of Ser150 with a small hydrophobic (valine) or negatively charged (aspartate) amino acid did not produce a significant change in ZrSod2-22p substrate specificity, the introduction of a positive charge at this position stopped the activity of the antiporter. This data demonstrates that the amino-acid composition of the fifth transmembrane domain, mainly the presence of amino acids containing hydroxyl groups in this part of the protein, is critical for the recognition and transport of substrates and could participate in conformational movements during the binding and/or cation transport cycle in yeast plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporters.     

Schizosaccharomyces pombe possesses two plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H antiporters differing in their substrate specificity

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, SpSod2p, has been shown to belong to the subfamily of yeast Na(+)/H(+) antiporters that only recognize Na(+) and Li(+) as substrates. Nevertheless, most of the studied plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H(+) antiporters from other yeasts have broader substrate specificities, exporting K(+) and Rb(+) as well. Such antiporters probably play two roles in the physiology of cells: the elimination of surplus toxic cations, and the regulation of stable intracellular K(+) content, pH and cell volume. The systematic sequencing of the Sch. pombe genome revealed the presence of an as-yet uncharacterized homolog of the Spsod2 gene (designated Spsod22). Spsod22 and Spsod2 were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking their own alkali metal cation efflux systems, and the transport properties of both Sch. pombe antiporters were compared to those of the Sac. cerevisiae Nha1 antiporter expressed under the same conditions. Here we show that SpSod22p has broad substrate specificity upon heterologous expression in Sac. cerevisiae cells and contributes to cell tolerance to high external levels of K(+). Thus, the Sch. pombe genome encodes two plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H(+) antiporters that play different roles in the physiology of the yeast.