Open AccessThe role of xylulokinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae xylulose catabolism
Author(s) -
Richard Peter,
Toivari Mervi H,
Penttilä Merja
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09259.x
Subject(s) - saccharomyces cerevisiae , yeast , biochemistry , fermentation , chemistry , metabolism , catabolism
Many yeast species have growth rates on D ‐xylulose of 25–130% of those on glucose, but for Saccharomyces cerevisiae this ratio is only about 6%. The xylulokinase reaction has been proposed to be the rate‐limiting step in the D ‐xylulose fermentation with S. cerevisiae . Over‐expression of xylulokinase encoding XKS1 stimulated growth on D ‐xylulose in a S. cerevisiae strain to about 20% of the growth rate on glucose and deletion of the gene prevented growth on D ‐xylulose and D ‐xylulose metabolism. We have partially purified the xylulokinase and characterised its kinetic properties. It is reversible and will also accept D ‐ribulose as a substrate.