Visualization of protein compartmentation within the plasma membrane of living yeast cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2003 Nov;14(11):4427-36. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e03-04-0221. Epub 2003 Jul 25.

Abstract

Different distribution patterns of the arginine/H+ symporter Can1p, the H+ plasma membrane ATPase Pma1p, and the hexose transport facilitator Hxt1p within the plasma membrane of living Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were visualized using fluorescence protein tagging of these proteins. Although Hxt1p-GFP was evenly distributed through the whole cell surface, Can1p-GFP and Pma1p-GFP were confined to characteristic subregions in the plasma membrane. Pma1p is a well-documented raft protein. Evidence is presented that Can1p, but not Hxt1p, is exclusively associated with lipid rafts, too. Double labeling experiments with Can1p-GFP- and Pma1p-RFP-containing cells demonstrate that these proteins occupy two different nonoverlapping membrane microdomains. The size of Can1p-rich (Pma1p-poor) areas was estimated to 300 nm. These domains were shown to be stable in growing cells for >30 min. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of a cell polarization-independent lateral compartmentation in the plasma membrane of a living cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • CAN1 protein, Candida albicans
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
  • HXT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • PMA1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases