Abstract
The CYSTM (cysteine-rich transmembrane module) protein family comprises small molecular cysteine-rich tail-anchored membrane proteins found in many eukaryotes. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains carrying the CYSTM genes YDRO34W-B and YBR056W-A (MNC1) fused with GFP were used to test the expression of these genes under different stresses. The YBR056W-A (MNC1) and YDR034W-B genes are expressed under stress conditions caused by the toxic concentrations of heavy metal ions, such as manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cuprum, and 2.4-dinitrophenol uncoupler. The expression level of YDR034W-B was higher than that of YBR056W-A under alkali and cadmium stresses. The Ydr034w-b-GFP and Ybr056w-a-GFP proteins differ in the cellular localization: Ydr034w-b-GFP was mainly observed in the plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane, while Ybr056w-a-GFP was observed in the cytoplasm, probably in intracellular membranes. The null-mutants in both genes demonstrated decreased cell concentration and lytic phenotype when cultivated in the presence of excess manganese. This allows for speculations about the involvement of Mnc1 and Ydr034w-b proteins in manganese stress overcoming.