FLX1 codes for a carrier protein involved in maintaining a proper balance of flavin nucleotides in yeast mitochondria

Respiratory defective mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae previously assigned to complementation group G178 are characterized by an abnormally low ratio of FAD/FMN in mitochondria. A nuclear gene, designated FLX1, was selected from a yeast genomic library, based on its ability to confer wild-type growth properties to a representative G178 mutant. Genetic evidence has con firmed that the flavin nucleotide imbalance of G178 mutants is caused by mutations in FLX1. The sequence of FLX1 is identical to a reading frame recently reported to be present on yeast chromosome IX (GenBank(TM) 247047). The sequence and tripartite repeat structure of the FLX1 product (Flx1p) indicate it is a member of a protein family consisting of mitochondrial substrate and nucleotide carriers. In yeast, FAD synthetase is present in the soluble cytoplasmic protein fraction but not in mitochondria. Riboflavin kinase, the preceding enzyme in flavin biosynthesis, is present in both subcellular fractions. The absence of FAD synthetase in mitochondria implies that FAD is imported from the cytoplasm. The lower concentration of mitochondrial FAD in flx1 mutants suggests that Flx1p is involved in flavin transport, a role that is also supported by biochemical evidence indicating more efficient flux of FAD across mitochondrial membrane vesicles prepared from wild-type strains than membrane vesicles from flx1 mutants.