IDENTIFICATION AND DNA SEQUENCE OF A NEW H+-ATPase IN THE UNICELLULAR GREEN ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

Insertional mutagenesis was used to identify genes involved in mating and/or zygote formation in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard. Approximately 800 insertionally mutagenized transformants were examined, and a single nonagglutinating mutant was identified. Plasmid rescue was used to clone a genomic fragment containing transforming DNA. This fragment was then used to identify the wild-type copy of the gene disrupted during mutagenesis. The wild-type gene is transcribed during all stages of the life cycle and, based on sequence similarity, encodes a P2-type proton transporting ATPase. The gene is referred to as Pmh1 for plasma membrane H ⁺ -ATPase. PMH1 displays the greatest sequence similarity to ATPases from two parasitic flagellates and a raphidophytic alga but not to the ATPase from a closely related green alga. We propose that PMH1 represents a distinct H ⁺ -ATPase isoform expressed in flagellates.