Mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae which confer resistance to several amino acid analogs

Abstract

Four new complementation groups of mutations which confer resistance to several amino acid analogs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are described. These mutants were isolated on medium containing urea as the nitrogen source, in contrast to previous studies that had used medium containing proline. All four resistance to amino acid analog (raa) complementation groups appear to confer resistance by reducing amino acid analog and amino acid uptake. In some genetic backgrounds, raa leu2 and raa thr4 double mutants are inviable, even on rich medium. The raa4 mutation may affect multiple amino acid transport systems, since raa4 mutants are unable to use proline as a nitrogen source. raa4 is, however, unlinked to a previously described amino acid analog resistance and proline uptake mutant, aap1, or to the general amino acid permease mutant gap1. Both raa4 and gap1 prevent uptake of [3H]leucine in liquid cultures. The raa1, raa2, and raa3 mutants affect only a subset of the amino acid analogs and amino acids affected by raa4. The phenotypes of raa1, -2, and -3 mutants are readily observed on agar plates but are not seen in uptake and incorporation of amino acids measured in liquid media.