Abstract
Mutations in theCWH8 gene, which encodes an ER transmembrane protein with a phosphate binding pocket in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, result in a deficiency in dolichyl pyrophosphate (Dol-P-P)-linked oligosaccharide intermediate synthesis and proteinN-glycosylation (van Berkel, M. A., Rieger, M., te Heesen, S., Ram, A. F., van den Ende, H., Aebi, M., and Klis, F. M. (1999) Glycobiology 9, 243–253). Genetic, enzymological, and topological approaches were taken to investigate the potential role of Cwh8p in Dol-P-P/Dol-P metabolism. Overexpression of Cwh8p in the yeast double mutant strain, lacking LPP1/DPP1, resulted in an impressive increase in Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a relatively small increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no change in phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity in microsomal fractions. The Dol-P-P phosphatase encoded by CWH8 is optimally active in the presence of 0.5% octyl glucoside and relatively unstable in Triton X-100, distinguishing this activity from the lipid phosphatases encoded by LPP1 and DPP1. Stoichiometric amounts of Pi and Dol-P are formed during the enzymatic reaction indicating that Cwh8p cleaves the anhydride linkage in Dol-P-P. Membrane fractions from Sf-9 cells expressing Cwh8p contained a 30-fold higher level of Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a slight increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no increase in PA phosphatase relative to controls. This is the first report of a lipid phosphatase that hydrolyzes Dol-P-P/Dol-P but not PA. In accord with this enzymatic function, Dol-P-P accumulated in cells lacking the Dol-P-P phosphatase. Topological studies using different approaches indicate that Cwh8p is a transmembrane protein with a luminally oriented active site. The specificity, subcellular location, and topological orientation of this novel enzyme are consistent with a role in the re-utilization of the glycosyl carrier lipid for additional rounds of lipid intermediate biosynthesis after its release during proteinN-glycosylation reactions.