A genetic screen for aminophospholipid transport mutants identifies the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase, STT4p, as an essential component in phosphatidylserine metabolism.

In an effort to understand molecular mechanisms of intracellular lipid transport, we have focused upon specific events required for de novo aminophospholipid synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A genetic system for examining the steps between phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum and its transport to and decarboxylation by PtdSer decarboxylase 2 in the Golgi/vacuole has been developed. We have isolated a mutant, denoted pstB1, that accumulates PtdSer and has diminished phosphatidylethanolamine formation despite normal PtdSer decarboxylase 2 activity. The lesion in PtdSer metabolism is consistent with a defect in interorganelle lipid transport. A genomic DNA clone that complements the mutation was isolated, and sequencing revealed that the clone contains the STT4 gene, encoding a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase. The pstB1 mutant exhibits a defect in Stt4p-type phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity, and direct gene replacement indicates that STT4 is the defective gene in the mutant. Creation of an STT4 null allele (stt4Delta::HIS3) demonstrates the gene is essential. These results provide evidence that implicates phosphoinositides in the regulation of intracellular aminophospholipid transport.