Molecular characterization of the Candida albicans LYS5 gene and site-directed mutational analysis of the PPTase (Lys5p) domains for lysine biosynthesis.

The LYS2 and LYS5 genes of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are required for the alpha-aminoadipate reductase (AAR) reaction in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. The LYS2 encodes an apo-AAR (Lys2p) and the LYS5 encodes a phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) for the post-translational activation of AAR. Our cloned C. albicans LYS5 gene encodes a 38.4 kDa PPTase which is 27% identical and 43% similar to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lys5p. Sequence alignment of Lys5p with other PPTases reveals highly conserved putative PPTase domains including the Core 3, WXXKESXXK (residues 194-202). Recombinant Lys5p expressed in Escherichia coli activates C. albicans Lys2p for the AAR activity and also activates AARs from S. cerevisiae and to a lesser extent Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Site-directed mutational analyses reveal glutamic acid 198 in the Lys5p Core 3 as essential for the activation of recombinant Lys2p AAR activity. Other conserved amino acids were also analyzed for their influence on Lys5p PPTase activity. Our results demonstrate cloning of the LYS5 gene, expression of Lys5p, in vitro Lys2p activation model and characterization of the functional motifs of the C. albicans PPTase.