Genes encoding chimeras of Neurospora crassa erg-3 and human TM7SF2 proteins fail to complement Neurospora and yeast sterol C-14 reductase mutants

J Biosci. 2002 Mar;27(2):105-12. doi: 10.1007/BF02703766.

Abstract

The human gene TM7SF2 encodes a polypeptide (SR-1) with high sequence similarity to sterol C-14 reductase, a key sterol biosynthetic enzyme in fungi, plants and mammals. In Neurospora and yeast this enzyme is encoded by the erg-3 and erg24 genes respectively. In an effort to demonstrate sterol C-14 reductase activity for SR-1 we constructed six recombinant genes coding for chimeras of the Neurospora erg-3 and SR-1 protein sequences and tested them for complementation of the Neurospora erg-3 mutant. To our surprise, all the chimeras failed to complement erg-3. A few of the chimeric proteins were also tested against the yeast erg24 mutant, but again there was no complementation. We discuss some reasons that might account for these unexpected findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Genetic Complementation Test*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Neurospora crassa / enzymology
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics*
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • TM7SF2 protein, human
  • delta(14)-sterol reductase