Comparison of the MTT1- and MAL31-like maltose transporter genes in lager yeast strains

Maltose transporter genes were isolated from four lager yeast strains and sequenced. All four strains contain at least two different types of maltose transporter genes, MTT1 and MAL31. In addition, 'long' 2.7 kb, and 'short' 2.4 kb, versions of each type exist. The size difference is caused by the insertion of two repeats of 147 bp into the promoter regions of the long versions of the genes. As a consequence of the insertion, two Mal63-binding sites move 294 bp away from the transcription initiation site. The 2.4- and 2.7-kb versions are further highly similar. Only the 2.4-kb versions and not the 2.7-kb versions of MTT1 could restore the rapid growth of lager yeast strain A15 on maltotriose in the presence of antimycin A. These results suggest that insertion of the two repeats into the promoter region of the 'long versions' of MTT1 genes led to a diminished expression of these genes. None of the tested long and short versions of the MAL31 genes were able to restore this growth. As the promoter regions of the MTT1 and MAL31 genes are identical, small differences in the protein sequence may be responsible for the different properties of these genes.