Molecular cloning of the yeast mitochondrial aconitase gene (ACO1) and evidence of a synergistic regulation of expression by glucose plus glutamate.

We have isolated genomic clones complementing the aconitase-deficient strain (glu1-1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Identification of the aconitase gene was established by enzymatic assays and molecular analyses. The corresponding mRNA has been characterized, and its direction of transcription has been determined. The complete nucleotide sequence revealed strong amino acid homologies with the sequences of some peptides isolated from the mammalian protein. Disruption of the gene by deletion-insertion led to glutamate auxotrophy. Expression of the aconitase gene was sensitive to glucose repression and was synergistically down regulated by glucose and glutamate.