THE ALKANE-INDUCIBLE CANDIDA-MALTOSA ALI1 GENE-PRODUCT IS AN NADH-UBIQUINONE OXIDOREDUCTASE SUBUNIT HOMOLOG

The ALI1 gene product in Candida maltosa was previously shown to be es sential for n-alkane assimilation, possibly as a transcription factor [Hwang et al., Gene 106 (1991) 61-69]. We show that the predicted sequ ence is highly homologous to a subunit of respiratory complex I from a nother fungus, Neurospora crassa, and from Bos taurus. The predicted p rotein contains a motif conserved in this subunit from mitochondria, c hloroplasts and bacteria. It also contains an N-terminal sequence that suggests a mitochondrial (mt) localization and a role for mt respirat ion in n-alkane assimilation.