The control of transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast FBP1 poly(A) signal functions in both orientations and overlaps with a gene promoter

This report provides an analysis of a region of chromosome XII in which the FBP1 and YLR376c genes transcribe in the same direction. Our investigation indicates that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae FBP1 gene contains strong signals for polyadenylation and transcription termination in both orientations in vivo . A (TA)14 element plays a major role in directing polyadenylation in both orientations. While this region has four nonoverlapping copies of a TATATA hexanucleotide, which is a very potent polyadenylation efficiency element in yeast, it alone is not sufficient for full activation in the reverse orientation of a cluster of downstream poly(A) sites, and an additional upstream sequence is required. The putative RNA hairpin formed from the (TA)14 element is not involved in 3'-end formation. Surprisingly, deletion of the entire (TA)14 stretch affects transcription termination in the reverse orientation, in contrast to our previous results with the forward orientation, indicating that the transcription termination element operating in the reverse orientation has very different sequence requirements. Promoter elements for the YLR376c gene overlap with the signal for FBP1 3'-end formation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that overlapping of both types of regulatory signals has been found in two adjacent yeast genes.

In vitro transcription from the Nectria haematococca PDA1 promoter in an homologous extract reflects in vivo pisatin-responsive regulation

The PDA1 gene of Nectria haematococca MP VI (anamorph: Fusarium solani) encodes pisatin demethylase. This enzyme detoxifies the isoflavanoid phytoalexin pisatin produced by the plant on which this fungus is pathogenic. Expression of pisatin demethylase activity is induced in a mycelium by pretreatment with pisatin. We have developed homologous in vitro system which accurately initiates transcription from the PDA1 promoter. Transcription levels in vitro reflect the same pisatin-responsive stimulation as measured for PDA1 mRNA in vivo, and are dependent upon sequences in the 5' upstream region of PDA1. Pisatin-responsive transcription from the PDA1 promoter indicates that initiation of transcription is a major regulatory step in the pisatin induction of pisatin demethylase expression.

Characterization of the transcriptional potency of sub-elements of the UAS of the yeast PGK gene in a PGK mini-promoter

The upstream activator (UAS) of the yeast PGK gene comprises three different sequence elements. These are 1) a region of strong protein binding called the YFP, 2) three repeats of the motif CTTCC and 3) an essential activator core (AC) sequence that binds the protein RAP1. To assess the function of each of these elements in transcriptional activation we have inserted them individually and in various combinations into a PGK mini-promoter. This comprises only the transcription initiation elements from the PGK promoter and is inactive in the absence of activator sequences. None of the individual sequence elements was capable of activating the mini-promoter. However either the YFP or the CTTCC boxes in conjunction with the AC box resulted in efficient expression. Transcription levels were not however as high as when all three elements were inserted. These data suggest that the efficiency of PGK transcription depends upon the interactions between three different sequences. Furthermore while RAP1 per se is not a transcriptional activator it can associate promiscuously with other factors to create a functional transcription complex.

Initiation by yeast RNA polymerase II at the adenoviral major late promoter in vitro

Transcription of the yeast CYC1 promoter fused to a sequence lacking guanosine residues provided a rapid, sensitive assay of initiation by RNA polymerase II in yeast extracts. Initiation was enhanced by yeast and mammalian activator proteins. The adenoviral major late promoter fused to the G-minus sequence was transcribed in yeast extracts with an efficiency comparable to that observed in HeLa extracts, showing that promoters as well as transcription factors are functionally interchangeable across species. Initiation occurred at different sites, approximately 30 and 63 to 69 base pairs downstream of the TATA element of the adenoviral promoter in HeLa and yeast extracts, respectively, distances characteristic of initiation in the two systems in vivo. A component of the transcription system and not the promoter sequence determines the distance to the initiation site.

Upstream and downstream transcriptional control signals in the yeast retrotransposon, TY

The yeast retrotransposon, Ty, shares many structural and functional features with retroviral proviruses. These include production of a terminally redundant major transcript. There are also two less abundant transcripts of 5.0 kb and 2.2 kb. Ty transcription is regulated by cell-type, that is it is reduced 5-20 fold in a/alpha diploids as compared to haploids. However control of expression of Ty is not well understood. By deletion analysis we have identified regions of the element which are involved in the activation and regulation of transcription. These signals are found both upstream and downstream of the mRNA start site. The downstream signals are within the region encoding the major Ty proteins. This organisation of transcriptional control signals is discussed with reference to the organisation of control signals in other yeast genes and in retroviral proviruses and other retro-elements.