Dual regulation of proton- and sodium-coupled phosphate transport systems in the Yarrowia lipolytica yeast by extracellular phosphate and pH.

In this study we used a newly isolated osmo-, salt-, and alkali-tolerant Yarrowia lipolytica yeast strain, with a unique capacity to grow over a wide pH range (3.5-10.5). A procedure was elaborated to follow phosphate accumulation by Y. lipolytica cells grown at different pH values. In this paper we demonstrate that Pi-starved Y. lipolytica cells are endowed by derepressible high-affinity, high-capacity H(+)- and Na(+)-driven Pi uptake systems and that activities of these transport systems are under the dual control by the prevailing extracellular Pi concentrations and pH values.