Isolation and characterization of Ca2+-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Thirty Ca2+-sensitive (cls: calcium sensitive) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated by replica-plating. These mutants, which each had a single recessive chromosomal mutation, were divided into 18 complementation groups. Some cls mutants showed a phenotype of specific sensitivity to Ca2+, while others showed phenotypes of sensitivities to several divalent cations. From measurements of the calcium contents and initial rates of Ca2+ uptake of the cls mutants, 16 of the 18 cls complementation groups were classified into four types: type I mutants (cls5, cls6, cls13, cls14, cls15, cls16, cls17, and cls18) had both elevated calcium contents and increased uptake activities. A type II mutant (cls4) had a normal calcium content and normal uptake activity; type III mutants (cls1, cls2 and cls3) had elevated calcium contents but normal initial rates of Ca2+ uptake; type IV mutants (cls8, cls9, cls10 and cls11) had normal calcium contents but increased initial rates of Ca2+ uptake. Two of the mutants (cls7 and cls12) had intermediate biochemical properties. The primary defects of these four types of cls mutants were considered in terms of the Ca2+ transport system(s). Both type I and type III mutants, which had elevated calcium contents, simultaneously showed a trifluoperazine-sensitive phenotype, suggesting a close correlation of this phenotype with elevated calcium content. In addition, all type IV mutants were unable to utilize nonfermentable sugars. One CLS gene, CLS7, was located on the left arm of chromosome V.