An efficient system for functional hyper-expression of multidrug efflux pumps in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Clinically important resistance of fungal pathogens to azole antifungal drugs is most frequently caused by the over-expression of energy-dependent drug efflux pumps. These pumps usually belong to either the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family or the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) class of membrane transporter. Little is known about how these pumps work and there is urgent need to develop pump antagonists that circumvent resistance. The expression system is based on an S. cerevisiae AD1-8u- strain deleted in seven major ABC transporters which has reduced background and endogenous efflux activity. Plasmid pABC3 was engineered to allow functional hyper-expression of foreign proteins in this host. The main advantages of our system are its cloning efficiency: the use of homologous recombination to stably integrate single copy constructs into the host genome under the control of a highly active transcriptional regulator. The expression system has been used to clone and express genes encoding drug efflux pumps from several pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, functional over-expression of human P-glycoprotein was also demonstrated. The protein hyperexpression system will be useful for the screening of pump inhibitors and the study of membrane protein pumping mechanisms. This system has been used to screen chemicals for pump inhibitors. It was found that FK506 and milbemycins chemosensitized pump-expressing and fluconazole-resistant strains and inhibited pump ATPase activity.