The Gef1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is associated with chloride channel activity

The Gef1 protein of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Gef1p) has amino acid homology to the voltage-gated CLC chloride channel family. It has been postulated that it provides the compensatory transport of Cl- anions to the lumen of the Golgi thereby regulating the pH of this compartment. Using GEF1 fusion with heterologous promoter we obtained a yeast strain highly overproducing Gef1p. The electrophysiological properties of the microsomal fraction obtained from this strain were measured using lipid bilayer system. Our data indicate that Gef1p is associated with the chloride channel activity. This anion-selective channel has a unitary conductance of 42 pS when measured in symmetrical 600/600 mM TEA-Cl solutions, is voltage-dependent, and closes at high negative voltages.