Molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis in yeasts

Abstract

Peroxisomes contain oxidases, which generate hydrogen peroxide, and catalase, which degrades this toxic compound. Another characteristic function of each eukaryotic peroxisome, from yeast to man, is fatty acid β oxidation. However, a variety of other metabolic pathways are also located in peroxisomes. In fungi, peroxisomes contain enzymes involved in catabolism of unusual carbon and nitrogen sources (metha nol, purines, D amino acids, pipecolynic acid, sarcosine, glycolate, spermidine, etc.), as well as biosynthesis of lysine in yeasts and penicillin in mycelial fungi. Impairment of the peroxisome structure and functions causes many human disorders. Similar defects were identified in yeast mutants defective in peroxisome bio genesis. Peroxisome biogenesis has been actively studied using unicellular and multicellular model systems over the last two decades. It was observed that many aspects of peroxisome biogenesis and proteins involved in the process display striking similarity among all eukaryotes from yeasts to humans. Yeasts provide a conve nient model system for this kind of research. The review summarizes the data on the molecular events of per oxisome biogenesis, the functions of peroxine proteins, the import of peroxisomal matrix and membrane pro teins, and the mechanisms of peroxisome division and inheritance.

Genome sequence and analysis of methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha DL1

“…The efficient and tightly regulated promoters of the methanol-assimilating genes are widely used in gene expression and recombinant protein production studies, and powerful industrial protein production platforms have been developed for several methylotrophic yeast species, namely, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha and Candida boindii [ 4 - 9 ]. Methylotrophic yeasts are also widely used in studies of peroxisome biogenesis, protein targeting and function [ 10 - 13 ]. Due to their widespread application as cell factories and in basic research, methylotrophic yeasts are currently the subjects of intense genomic and systems biology studies.…”