Genetics. Published Articles Ahead of Print: July 14, 2005, Copyright © 2005
doi:10.1534/genetics.105.046540


A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2005.


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A screen for nigericin-resistant yeast mutants revealed genes controlling mitochondrial volume and mitochondrial cation homeostasis

1 Comenius University, Bratislava

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tomaska{at}fns.uniba.sk.

Submitted on June 7, 2005
Revised on June 27, 2005
Accepted on 7 July 2005


Abstract

Little is known about the regulation of ion transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To approach this problem, we devised a screening procedure facilitating the identification of proteins involved in mitochondrial ion homeostasis. Taking advantage of the growth inhibition of yeast cells by electroneutral K+/H+ ionophore nigericin, we screened for genetic mutations which would render cells tolerant to this drug when grown on a non-fermentable carbon source and identified several candidate genes including MDM31, MDM32, NDI1, YMR088C (VBA1), CSR2, RSA1, YLR024C, and YNL136W (EAF7). Direct examination of intact cells by electron microscopy indicated that mutants lacking the MDM31 and/or MDM32 genes contain dramatically enlarged, spherical mitochondria and that these morphological abnormalities can be alleviated by nigericin. Mitochondria isolated from the {Delta}mdm31 and {Delta}mdm32 mutants exhibited limited swelling in an isotonic solution of potassium acetate even in a presence of an exogenous K+/H+ antiport. In addition, growth of the mutants was inhibited on ethanol-containing media in the presence of high concentrations of salts (KCl, NaCl, or MgSO4) and their mitochondria exhibited two- ({Delta}mdm31 and {Delta}mdm32) to three-fold ({Delta}mdm31{Delta}mdm32) elevation in magnesium content. Taken together, these data indicate that the Mdm31p and Mdm32p control mitochondrial morphology through regulation of mitochondrial cation homeostasis and the maintenance of proper matrix osmolarity.

Key Words: cation transport, mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial volume homeostasis, nigericin tolerance, yeast




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