H. Cordier et al., A single amino-acid substitution in the yeast mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase leads to a defect in the homodimerization of the protein, ACT BOT GAL, 146(1), 1999, pp. 117-120
The functional yeast ERG19 allele encoding mevalonate diphosphate decarboxy
lase (MVD) and the mutated recessive allele erg19 leading to a decrease of
sterol production and a thermosensitive phenotype, were cloned and characte
rized. The mutated erg19 allele bears a single amino acid leu79-to-pro subs
titution. This mutation doesn't affect the level of production of the mutat
ed enzyme. Two-hybrid assays showed that the yeast MVD forms homodimers; th
e single point mutation was shown to impair the dimerization of the mutated
enzyme, leading to a less active MVD.