Processing and secretion of the alkaline extracellular protease (AEP) from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was studied by pulse-chase and immunoprecipitation experiments. Over half of newly synthesized AEP was secreted by 6 min. Over 99% of AEP activity which was external to the cytoplasmic membrane was located in the supernatant medium. Polypeptides of 55, 52, 44, 36, and kifodaltons derived from the proregion of AEP indicated that one major processing pathway was 55K-*52K-*32K. The gene coding for AEP (XPR2) was cloned and sequenced. The sequence and the immunoprecipitation results suggest that AEP is originally synthesized with an additional preprol-proII-proIlI amino-terminal region. Processing definitely involves cleavage(s) after pairs of basic amino acids and the addition of one N-linked oligosaccharide. Signal peptidase cleavage, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase cleavages, and at least one additional proteolytic cleavage may also be involved.

We have identified and characterized mutants of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica that are deficient in protein secretion, in the ability to undergo dimorphic transition from the yeast to the mycelial form, and in peroxisome biogenesis. Mutations in the SEC238, SRP54, PEX1, PEX2, PEX6, and PEX9 genes affect protein secretion, prevent the exit of the precursor form of alkaline extracellular protease from the endoplasmic reticulum, and compromise peroxisome biogenesis. The mutants sec238A, srp54KO, pex2KO, pex6KO, and pex9KO are also deficient in the dimorphic transition from the yeast to the mycelial form and are affected in the export of only plasma membrane and cell wall-associated proteins specific for the mycelial form. Mutations in the SEC238, SRP54, PEX1, and PEX6 genes prevent or significantly delay the exit of two peroxisomal membrane proteins, Pex2p and Pex16p, from the endoplasmic reticulum en route to the peroxisomal membrane. Mutations in the PEX5, PEX16, and PEX17 genes, which have previously been shown to be essential for peroxisome biogenesis, affect the export of plasma membrane and cell wall-associated proteins specific for the mycelial form but do not impair exit from the endoplasmic reticulum of either Pex2p and Pex16p or of proteins destined for secretion. Biochemical analyses of these mutants provide evidence for the existence of four distinct secretory pathways that serve to deliver proteins for secretion, plasma membrane and cell wall synthesis during yeast and mycelial modes of growth, and peroxisome biogenesis. At least two of these secretory pathways, which are involved in the export of proteins to the external medium and in the delivery of proteins for assembly of the peroxisomal membrane, diverge at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum.The secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells consists of a series of morphologically and biochemically distinct membranebound compartments. The classical secretory pathway starts with protein translocation into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). From the ER, secretory proteins are transported within a series of vesicles to and through the Golgi complex and are then either delivered to the cell surface or routed to the endosomal-lysosomal (vacuolar) branch of the pathway (32,43,53). At all stages of the pathway, intercompartmental transport is initiated by the formation of coated vesicles on the donor compartment, followed by uncoating of vesicle intermediates prior to their fusion with a specific acceptor compartment (47,(52)(53)(54). While initial studies suggested the existence of one major pathway of vesicle-mediated protein export to the cell surface through a series of membrane-bound compartments, exceptions to this classical scheme of protein secretion have now been described.First, not all proteins of either mammalian or yeast cells are delivered to the cell surface via the vesicle-mediated secretory pathway. At least two nonclassical secretory pathways have been demonstrated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (for a detailed discussion, s...

Saccharomycopsis lipolytica CX161-1B, a strain suitable for genetic studies, when grown at neutral pH produced a single alkaline extracellular protease, lower levels of acid extracellular protease(s) and no neutral extracellular protease. The alkaline protease was purified to homogeneity (as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration to be 27000-30000, and the isoelectric point was pH 5.7. The purified enzyme had an alkaline pH optimum (pH 9-10). It was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, reversibly inhibited by EDTA, partially inhibited by o-phenanthroline, and not inhibited by dithiothreitol, N-ethylmaleimide or 4-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, indicating that it is a serine protease. The content of sulphur amino acids was determined, and the purified protease contained no more than 1.8% carbohydrate as determined by the phenol-sulphuric acid method. The N-terminal amino acid sequence (25 residues) was determined; the N-terminal amino acid was alanine.

Many species of yeast secrete significant amounts of protease(s). In this article, results of numerous surveys of yeast extracellular protease production have been compiled and inconsistencies in the data and limitations of the methodology have been examined. Regulation, purification, characterization, and processing of yeast extracellular proteases are reviewed. Results obtained from the sequences of cloned genes, especially the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bar protease, the Candida albicans acid protease, and the Yarrowia lipolytica alkaline protease, have been emphasized. Biotechnological applications and the medical relevance of yeast extracellular proteases are covered. Yeast extracellular proteases have potential in beer and wine stabilization, and they probably contribute to pathogenicity of Candida spp. Yeast extracellular protease genes also provide secretion and processing signals for yeast expression systems designed for secretion of heterologous proteins. Coverage of the secretion of foreign proteases such as prochymosin, urokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator by yeast in included.

Yarrowia lipolytica DO613, carrying the xpr6-13 mutation, secretes an inactive precursor of alkaline extracellular protease that has not been cleaved after the Lys-Arg at the end of the pro-region. Compared to wild type, DO613 membrane preparations had significantly reduced ability to cleave after Lys-Arg of an artificial substrate. The XPR6 gene was cloned by complementation by screening for restoration of production of alkaline protease activity. Sequencing of a 3735 base pair SalI-SphI XPR6 fragment revealed a large open reading frame with a coding capacity of 976 amino acids (molecular weight, 110,016). The deduced amino acid sequence had significant homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kex2p, a processing endoprotease that cleaves after pairs of basic amino acids. Disruption of the XPR6 gene was not lethal, but it resulted in several phenotypic changes. First, essentially no mature alkaline extracellular protease was produced indicating that the low levels produced by strains carrying previously isolated xpr6 alleles were due to leaky mutations. Second, mating type B strains carrying the disrupted XPR6 gene did not mate, but mating type A strains did. Third, the XPR6 disruption strains grew poorly on rich media at pH 5.5 and above. Cells remained physically attached after budding and continued to bud forming large dog balloon-like structures. In addition, these structures aggregated forming visible clumps in liquid culture. These growth aberrations were largely eliminated by growing cells in medium at pH 4. Fourth, no mycelial forms were observed regardless of the pH.