[Effect of tandem repeats adjacent to 3'-terminal of FLO1 on the flocculation function of Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

Objective: Many tandem repeats exist in FLO1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which might have great regulatory effect on the conformation and function of flocculation protein (flocculin). In this study, we analyzed the effect of 3'-terminal tandem repeats B, C and D complete deletion on the function of flocculin.

Methods: We constructed the derived gene FLO1 bcd with complete deletion of tandem repeats B, C and D of FLO1 by fusion PCR. We then constructed plasmid pYCF1 bcd by insertion of FLO1 bcd into YCp50, and transformed such plasmid, pYCF1 and YCp50 into S. cerevisiae YS58 separately to generate recombinant strains YSF1 bcd, YSF1 and YSP50. We compared the flocculation ability and characteristics of these strains.

Result: Compared to YSF1, YSF1 bcd displayed only a slight reduction (4%) in flocculation ability in optimal flocculation buffer (50 mmol/L NaAC, pH 4.5). Moreover, the dependence of flocculation on Ca2+, sensitivity to metal ions and ethanol, and the specificity to different sugars showed no obvious difference between strains YSF1 and YSF1 bcd. However, strain YSF1 bcd displayed much higher flocculation levels than strain YSF1 under conditions with extreme pH, high temperature, or high concentration of mannose.

Conclusion: Combined deletion of tandem repeats B, C and D adjacent to the 3'-terminal of FLO1 increases the conformation stability of flocculin in response to changes of pH, temperature or concentration of mannose in environment, but does not influence the other characteristics of flocculation.