Transition metal transport in yeast

Abstract

All eukaryotes and most prokaryotes require transition metals. In recent years there has been an enormous advance in our understanding of how these metals are transported across the plasma membrane. Much of this understanding has resulted from studies on the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A variety of genetic and biochemical approaches have led to a detailed understanding of how transition metals such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc are acquired by cells. The regulation of metal transport has been defined at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Results from studies on S. cerevisiae have been used to understand metal transport in other species of yeast as well as in higher eukaryotes.