Biochemical Properties of Vacuolar Zinc Transport Systems ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2002-10, Vol.277 (42), p.39187-39194
• Main Authors: MacDiarmid, Colin W., Milanick, Mark A., Eide, David J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M205052200

The yeast vacuole plays an important role in zinc homeostasis by storing zinc for later use under deficient conditions, sequestering excess zinc for its detoxification, and buffering rapid changes in intracellular zinc levels. The mechanisms involved in vacuolar zinc sequestration are only poorly characterized. Here we describe the properties of zinc transport systems in yeast vacuolar membrane vesicles. The major zinc transport activities in these vesicles were ATP-dependent, requiring a H + gradient generated by the V-ATPase for function. One system we identified was dependent on the ZRC1 gene, which encodes a member of the cation diffusion facilitator family of metal transporters. These data are consistent with the proposed role of Zrc1 as a vacuolar zinc transporter. Zrc1-independent activity was also observed that was not dependent on the closely related vacuolar Cot1 protein. Both Zrc1-dependent and independent activities showed a high specificity for Zn 2+ over other physiologically relevant substrates such as Ca 2+ , Fe 2+ , and Mn 2+ . Moreover, these systems had high affinities for zinc with apparent K m values in the 100–200 n m range. These results provide biochemical insight into the important role of Zrc1 and related proteins in eukaryotic zinc homeostasis.