This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Inokuchi, K Articles by Hishinuma, F Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Inokuchi, K Articles by Hishinuma, F

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Mol Cell Biol. 1987 September; 7(9): 3185-3193

Identification of sequence elements that confer cell-type-specific control of MF alpha 1 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Mitsubishi-Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.

ABSTRACT

The MF alpha 1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a major structural gene for mating pheromone alpha factor, is an alpha-specific gene whose expression is regulated by the mating-type locus. To study the role of sequences upstream of MF alpha 1 in its expression and regulation, we generated two sets of promoter deletions: upstream deletions and internal deletions. By analyzing these deletions, we have identified a TATA box and two closely related, tandemly arranged upstream activation sites as necessary elements for MF alpha 1 expression. Two upstream activation sites were located ca. 300 and 250 base pairs upstream of the MF alpha 1 transcription start points, which were also determined in this study. Each site contained a homologous 22-base-pair sequence, and both sites were required for maximum transcription level. The distance between the upstream activation sites and the transcription start points could be altered without causing loss of transcription efficiency, and the sites were active in either orientation with respect to the coding region. These elements conferred cell type-specific expression on a heterologous promoter. Analysis with host mating-type locus mutants indicates that these sequences are the sites through which the MAT alpha 1 product exerts its action to activate the MF alpha 1 gene. Homologous sequences with these elements were found in other alpha-specific genes, MF alpha 2 and STE3, and may mediate activation of this set of genes by MAT alpha 1.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Sakurai, H., Fukasawa, T. (1997). Yeast Gal11 and Transcription Factor IIE Function through a Common Pathway in Transcriptional Regulation. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 32663-32669 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sakurai, H., Ohishi, T., Fukasawa, T. (1997). Promoter Structure-dependent Functioning of the General Transcription Factor IIE in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 15936-15942 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Christ, C, Tye, B K (1991). Functional domains of the yeast transcription/replication factor MCM1.. Genes Dev. 5: 751-763 [Abstract]  
• Ammerer, G (1990). Identification, purification, and cloning of a polypeptide (PRTF/GRM) that binds to mating-specific promoter elements in yeast.. Genes Dev. 4: 299-312 [Abstract]  
• Passmore, S, Elble, R, Tye, B K (1989). A protein involved in minichromosome maintenance in yeast binds a transcriptional enhancer conserved in eukaryotes.. Genes Dev. 3: 921-935 [Abstract]  
• Jarvis, E E, Clark, K L, Sprague, G F (1989). The yeast transcription activator PRTF, a homolog of the mammalian serum response factor, is encoded by the MCM1 gene.. Genes Dev. 3: 936-945 [Abstract]