The dominant kanr marker gene plays an important role in gene disruption experiments in budding yeast, as this marker can be used in a variety of yeast strains lacking the conventional yeast markers. We have developed a loxP-kanMX-loxP gene disruption cassette, which combines the advantages of the heterologous kanr marker with those from the Cre-lox P recombination system. This disruption cassette integrates with high efficiency via homologous integration at the correct genomic locus (routinely 70%). Upon expression of the Cre recombinase the kanMX module is excised by an efficient recombination between the loxP sites, leaving behind a single loxP site at the chromosomal locus. This system allows repeated use of the kanr marker gene and will be of great advantage for the functional analysis of gene families.

Through a screen designed to isolate novel fission yeast genes required for chromosome segregation, we have identified mal3 +. The mal3-1 mutation decreased the transmission fidelity of a nonessential minichromosome and altered sensitivity to microtubule-destabilizing drugs. Sequence analysis revealed that the 35-kD Mal3 is a member of an evolutionary conserved protein family. Its human counterpart EB-1 was identified in an interaction screen with the tumour suppressor protein APC. EB-1 was able to substitute for the complete loss of the mal3 + gene product suggesting that the two proteins might have similar functions. Cells containing a mal3 null allele were viable but showed a variety of phenotypes, including impaired control of cell shape. A fusion protein of Mal3 with the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein led to in vivo visualization of both cytoplasmic and mitotic microtubule structures indicating association of Mal3 with microtubules. The absence of Mal3 protein led to abnormally short, often faint cytoplasmic microtubules as seen by indirect antitubulin immunofluorescence. While loss of the mal3 + gene product had no gross effect on mitotic spindle morphology, overexpression of mal3 + compromised spindle formation and function and led to severe growth inhibition and abnormal cell morphology. We propose that Mal3 plays a role in regulating the integrity of microtubules possibly by influencing their stability.

The assembly of the lipid-linked core oligosaccharide Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, the substrate for N-linked glycosylation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is catalyzed by different glycosyltransferases located at the membrane of the ER. We report on the identification and characterization of the ALG12 locus encoding a novel mannosyltransferase responsible for the addition of the alpha-1,6 mannose to dolichol-linked Man7GlcNAc2. The biosynthesis of the highly branched oligosaccharide follows an ordered pathway which ensures that only completely assembled oligosaccharide is transferred from the lipid anchor to proteins. Using the combination of mutant strains affected in the assembly pathway of lipid-linked oligosaccharides and overexpression of distinct glycosyltransferases, we were able to define the substrate specificities of the transferases that are critical for branching. Our results demonstrate that branched oligosaccharide structures can be specifically recognized by the ER glycosyltransferases. This substrate specificity of the different transferases explains the ordered assembly of the complex structure of lipid-linked Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 in the endoplasmic reticulum.

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