In Schizosaccharomyces pombe chs2p has no chitin synthase activity but is related to septum formation

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Abstract
El pdf del artículo es la versión post-print.Chitin synthesis occurs in most fungi through the action of different chitin synthase (CS) isoenzymes. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe the chs2+ gene codes for a protein with significant similarity to CS enzymes, but lacking most of the residues considered to be essential for activity, including the QRRRW domain. Here we show that chs2p is a functional protein that localises to the growing edge of the septum but is not a CS enzyme. Strong over-expression is lethal, while moderate expression leads to a severe defect in septum formation. These results suggest that chs2p has remained through evolution to play an alternative role in septation. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.This work was supported by MECD FPU fellowship (to R.M.G.), the Junta de Castilla y León (Grants SA21/00A and SA035/02) and the CICYT (Grant BIO2001-2048), Spain.Peer Reviewe