SpMnn9p and SpAnp1p form a protein complex involved in mannan synthesis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The cell walls of yeast cells possess a large mannan structure mainly comprising of a linear α1,6-linked mannose oligomer on the N-linked glycans. The biosynthesis of the mannan is initiated by ScOch1p α1,6-mannosyltransfease, and elongated by the mannan polymerase complexes M-Pol I and II in the Golgi of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we functionally characterized SpMnn9 and SpAnp1 proteins in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe; these proteins are homologs of S. cerevisiae M-Pol II complex proteins ScMnn9p and ScAnp1p. Cells harboring disruptions in Spmnn9 and Spanp1 genes showed slower growth at 37°C and an increased sensitivity to hygromycin B, characteristic of a glycosylation defect. Results obtained from the acid phosphatase assay and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of N-linked glycans in Spmnn9Δ and Spanp1Δ mutants suggested that the mannan structure in S. pombe is synthesized sequentially by the α-mannosyltransferases in the order of SpOch1p, SpMnn9p and SpAnp1p. Immunoprecipitation and split YFP analyses demonstrated that SpMnn9p and SpAnp1p form the M-Pol-II like complex. Together, these results provided an improved understanding of the mechanism of mannan synthesis by SpMnn9p and SpAnp1p in S. pombe.