Biosynthesis of inositol in yeast. Primary structure of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) and functional analysis of its structural gene, the INO1 locus.

A biochemical, molecular, and genetic analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae INO1 gene and its product, L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) has been carried out. The sequence of the entire INO1 gene and surrounding regions has been determined. Computer analysis of the DNA sequence revealed four potential peptides. The largest open reading frame of 553 amino acids predicted a peptide with a molecular weight of 62,842. The amino acid composition and amino terminus of purified L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase were chemically determined and compared to the amino acid composition and amino terminus of the protein predicted from the DNA sequence of the large open reading frame. This analysis established that the large open reading frame encodes L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase. The largest of several small open reading frames adjacent to INO1 predicted a protein of 133 amino acids with a molecular weight of 15,182 and features which suggested that the encoded protein may be membrane-associated. A gene disruption was constructed at INO1 by eliminating a portion of the coding sequence and replacing it with another sequence. Strains carrying the gene disruption failed to express any protein cross-reactive to antibody directed against L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase. Although auxotrophic for inositol, strains carrying the gene disruption were completely viable when supplemented with inositol. In a similar fashion, a gene disruption was constructed in the chromosomal locus of the 133-amino acid open reading frame. This mutation did not affect viability but did cause inositol to be excreted from the cell.