FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION OF THE ENA1(PMR2)-ATPASE OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE IN SCHIZOSACCHAROMYCES-POMBE

Na+ efflux and Na+ tolerance depend on a putative P-type ATPase encoded by the gene ENA1(PMR2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and on a putative Na+/H+ antiporter encoded by the gene sod2 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This report shows that a sod2::ura4 mutant of S. pombe transformed with the ENA1 gene of S. cerevisiae expressed the ENA1 protein, and recovered Na+ efflux and Na+ tolerance. The efflux of Na+ in the wild strain of S. pombe was sensitive to the transmembrane Na+ and H+ gradients, whereas in the sod2::ura4 mutant transformed with ENA1 it was independent of these gradients. The data give further support to the notion that ENA1 and sod2 encode Na+ transporters and not regulators of the process of Na+ export; they show also the physiological consequences of exporting Na+ through an Na+-ATPase or an Na+/H+ antiporter.