MOLECULAR-IDENTIFICATION OF GLUTATHIONE SYNTHETASE (GSH2) GENE FROM SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

The hypothetical protein YOL049w on the chromosome XV was identified t o be the structural gene for glutathione synthetase (GSH2) of Saccharo myces cerevisiae. Translational initiation site was identified by maki ng the GSH2-lacZ fusion. The GSH2 gene contained an open reading frame (1473 bp) with 491 amino acids, and molecular weight of the GSH2 gene product was calculated to be 55812. Glutathione synthetase activity i n transformant carrying the GSH2 gene with multicopy plasmid increased approximately 4-fold. The GSH2 gene was not essential for growth of y east cell, and glutathione was not detected from the gsh2 disruptant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.