Differential Expression of the Three Yeast Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase Genes

Utilizing yeast strains containing insertion mutations in each of the three glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase structural genes, the level of expression of each gene was determined in logarithmically growing cells. The contribution of the TDH1, TDH2, and TDH3 gene products to the total glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in wild type cells is 10-15, 25-30, and 50-60%, respectively. The relative proportions of expression of each gene is the same in cells grown in the presence of glucose or ethanol as carbon source although the total glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in cells grown in the presence of glucose is 2-fold higher than in cells grown on ethanol. The polypeptides encoded by each of the structural genes were identified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The TDH3 structural gene encodes two resolvable forms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase which differ by their net charge. The apparent specific activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase encoded by the TDH3 structural gene is severalfold lower than the enzymes encoded by TDH1 or TDH2. The polypeptides encoded by the TDH2 or TDH3 structural genes form catalytically active homotetramers. The apparent Vmax for the homotetramer encoded by TDH3 is 2-3-fold lower than the homotetramer encoded by TDH2. Evidence is presented that isozymes of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase exist in yeast cells, however, the number of different isozymes formed was not established. These data confirm that the three yeast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes encode catalytically active enzyme and that the genes are expressed at different levels during logarithmic cell growth.