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Interspecies variation reveals a conserved repressor of α-specific genes in Saccharomyces yeasts
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2008.
-
Abstract
- The mating-type determination circuit in Saccharomyces yeast serves as a classic paradigm for the genetic control of cell type in all eukaryotes. Using comparative genetics, we discovered a central and conserved, yet previously undetected, component of this genetic circuit: active repression of α-specific genes in a cells. Upon inactivation of the SUM1 gene in Saccharomyces bayanus, a close relative of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a cells acquired mating characteristics of α cells and displayed autocrine activation of their mating response pathway. Sum1 protein bound to the promoters of α-specific genes, repressing their transcription. In contrast to the standard model, α1 was important but not required for α-specific gene activation and mating of α cells in the absence of Sum1. Neither Sum1 protein expression, nor its association with target promoters was mating-type-regulated. Thus, the α1/Mcm1 coactivators did not overcome repression by occluding Sum1 binding to DNA. Surprisingly, the mating-type regulatory function of Sum1 was conserved in S. cerevisiae. We suggest that a comprehensive understanding of some genetic pathways may be best attained through the expanded phenotypic space provided by study of those pathways in multiple related organisms.
- Subjects :
- Transcriptional Activation
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
Genetic Speciation
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Molecular Sequence Data
Saccharomyces bayanus
Repressor
Saccharomyces
Models, Biological
Conserved sequence
Species Specificity
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Genetics
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Gene
Conserved Sequence
Phylogeny
Regulation of gene expression
Homeodomain Proteins
biology
Base Sequence
Organisms, Genetically Modified
Nuclear Proteins
Promoter
Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein
biology.organism_classification
Genes, Mating Type, Fungal
Repressor Proteins
Phenotype
Developmental Biology
Research Paper
Transcription Factors
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3ae99ec94f92968189f9a2e76385f5e3