| Title: | Identification of a DNA segment that is necessary and sufficient for alpha-specific gene control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: implications for regulation of alpha-specific and a-specific genes |
| Author(s): | Jarvis EE; Hagen DC; Sprague GF; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403" |
| DOI: | 10.1128/mcb.8.1.309-320.1988 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0270-7306 (Print) 1098-5549 (Electronic) 0270-7306 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "STE3 mRNA is present only in Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha cells, not in a or a/alpha cells, and the transcript level increases about fivefold when cells are treated with a-factor mating pheromone. Deletions in the 5' noncoding region of STE3 defined a 43-base-pair (bp) upstream activation sequence (UAS) that can impart both modes of regulation to a CYC1-lacZ fusion when substituted for the native CYC1 UAS. UAS activity required the alpha 1 product of MAT alpha, which is known to be required for transcription of alpha-specific genes. A chromosomal deletion that removed only 14 bp of the STE3 UAS reduced STE3 transcript levels 50- to 100-fold, indicating that the UAS is essential for expression. The STE3 UAS shares a 26-bp homology with the 5' noncoding sequences of the only other known alpha-specific genes, MF alpha 1 and MF alpha 2. We view the homology as having two components--a nearly palindromic 16-bp 'P box' and an adjacent 10-bp 'Q box.' A synthetic STE3 P box was inactive as a UAS; a perfect palindrome P box was active in all three cell types. We propose that the P box is the binding site for a transcription activator, but that alpha 1 acting via the Q box is required for this activator to bind to the imperfect P boxes of alpha-specific genes. Versions of the P box are also found upstream of a-specific genes, within the binding sites of the repressor alpha 2 encoded by MAT alpha. Thus, the products of MAT alpha may render gene expression alpha or a-specific by controlling access of the same transcription activator to its binding site, the P box" |
| Keywords: | "Base Sequence Binding Sites DNA Mutational Analysis DNA, Fungal/*genetics Gene Expression Regulation *Genes, Fungal Mating Factor Molecular Sequence Data Peptides/*genetics Promoter Regions, Genetic *Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid Saccharomyces cerevi;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineJarvis, E E Hagen, D C Sprague, G F Jr eng GM 30027/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1988/01/01 Mol Cell Biol. 1988 Jan; 8(1):309-20. doi: 10.1128/mcb.8.1.309-320.1988" |
