Mutants of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica defective in protein exit from the endoplasmic reticulum are also defective in peroxisome biogenesis.

Mutations in the SEC238 and SRP54 genes of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica not only cause temperature-sensitive defects in the exit of the precursor form of alkaline extracellular protease and of other secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and in protein secretion but also lead to temperature-sensitive growth in oleic acid-containing medium, the metabolism of which requires the assembly of functionally intact peroxisomes. The sec238A and srp54KO mutations at the restrictive temperature significantly reduce the size and number of peroxisomes, affect the import of peroxisomal matrix and membrane proteins into the organelle, and significantly delay, but do not prevent, the exit of two peroxisomal membrane proteins, Pex2p and Pex16p, from the endoplasmic reticulum en route to the peroxisomal membrane. Mutations in the PEX1 and PEX6 genes, which encode members of the AAA family of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-like ATPases, not only affect the exit of precursor forms of secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum but also prevent the exit of the peroxisomal membrane proteins Pex2p and Pex16p from the endoplasmic reticulum and cause the accumulation of an extensive network of endoplasmic reticulum membranes. None of the peroxisomal matrix proteins tested associated with the endoplasmic reticulum in sec238A, srp54KO, pex1-1, and pex6KO mutant cells. Our data provide evidence that the endoplasmic reticulum is required for peroxisome biogenesis and suggest that in Y. lipolytica, the trafficking of some membrane proteins, but not matrix proteins, to the peroxisome occurs via the endoplasmic reticulum, results in their glycosylation within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, does not involve transport through the Golgi, and requires the products encoded by the SEC238, SRP54, PEX1, and PEX6 genes.