The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 activator protein associates with proline-specific upstream activation sequences

Polygraph: a software framework for the systematic assessment of synthetic regulatory DNA elements

The design of regulatory elements is pivotal in gene and cell therapy, where DNA sequences are engineered to drive elevated and cell-type specific expression. However, the systematic assessment of synthetic DNA sequences without robust metrics and easy-to-use software remains challenging. Here, we introduce Polygraph, a Python framework that evaluates synthetic DNA elements, based on features like diversity, motif and k-mer composition, similarity to endogenous sequences, and screening with predictive and foundational models. Polygraph is the first instrument for assessing synthetic regulatory sequences, enabling faster progress in therapeutic interventions and improving our understanding of gene regulatory mechanisms.

Yeast homologs of human MCUR1 regulate mitochondrial proline metabolism

Mitochondria house evolutionarily conserved pathways of carbon and nitrogen metabolism that drive cellular energy production. Mitochondrial bioenergetics is regulated by calcium uptake through the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), a multi-protein complex whose assembly in the inner mitochondrial membrane is facilitated by the scaffold factor MCUR1. Intriguingly, many fungi that lack MCU contain MCUR1 homologs, suggesting alternate functions. Herein, we characterize Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologs Put6 and Put7 of MCUR1 as regulators of mitochondrial proline metabolism. Put6 and Put7 are tethered to the inner mitochondrial membrane in a large hetero-oligomeric complex, whose abundance is regulated by proline. Loss of this complex perturbs mitochondrial proline homeostasis and cellular redox balance. Yeast cells lacking either Put6 or Put7 exhibit a pronounced defect in proline utilization, which can be corrected by the heterologous expression of human MCUR1. Our work uncovers an unexpected role of MCUR1 homologs in mitochondrial proline metabolism.

Mechanism of Long-Range Chromosome Motion Triggered by Gene Activation

Movement of chromosome sites within interphase cells is critical for numerous pathways including RNA transcription and genome organization. Yet, a mechanism for reorganizing chromatin in response to these events had not been reported. Here, we delineate a molecular chaperone-dependent pathway for relocating activated gene loci in yeast. Our presented data support a model in which a two-authentication system mobilizes a gene promoter through a dynamic network of polymeric nuclear actin. Transcription factor-dependent nucleation of a myosin motor propels the gene locus through the actin matrix, and fidelity of the actin association was ensured by ARP-containing chromatin remodelers. Motor activity of nuclear myosin was dependent on the Hsp90 chaperone. Hsp90 further contributed by biasing the remodeler-actin interaction toward nucleosomes with the non-canonical histone H2A.Z, thereby focusing the pathway on select sites such as transcriptionally active genes. Together, the system provides a rapid and effective means to broadly yet selectively mobilize chromatin sites.

Involvement of the stress-responsive transcription factor gene MSN2 in the control of amino acid uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The transcriptional factor Msn2 plays a pivotal role in response to environmental stresses by activating the transcription of stress-responsive genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our previous studies demonstrate that intracellular proline acts as a key protectant against various stresses. It is unknown, however, whether Msn2 is involved in proline homeostasis in S. cerevisiae cells. We here found that MSN2-overexpressing (MSN2-OE) cells showed higher sensitivity to a toxic analogue of proline, l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZC), as well as to the other amino acid toxic analogues, than wild-type cells. Overexpression of MSN2 increased the intracellular content of AZC, suggesting that Msn2 positively regulates the uptake of proline. Among the known proline permease genes, GNP1 was shown to play a predominant role in the AZC toxicity. Based on quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analyses, the overexpression of MSN2 did not induce any increases in the transcript levels of GNP1 or the other proline permease genes, while the amount of the Gnp1 protein was markedly increased in MSN2-OE cells. Microscopic observation suggested that the endocytic degradation of Gnp1 was impaired in MSN2-OE cells. Thus, this study sheds light on a novel link between the Msn2-mediated global stress response and the amino acid homeostasis in S. cerevisiae.

Mitochondrial proline catabolism activates Ras1/cAMP/PKA-induced filamentation in Candida albicans

Amino acids are among the earliest identified inducers of yeast-to-hyphal transitions in Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. Here, we show that the morphogenic amino acids arginine, ornithine and proline are internalized and metabolized in mitochondria via a PUT1- and PUT2-dependent pathway that results in enhanced ATP production. Elevated ATP levels correlate with Ras1/cAMP/PKA pathway activation and Efg1-induced gene expression. The magnitude of amino acid-induced filamentation is linked to glucose availability; high levels of glucose repress mitochondrial function thereby dampening filamentation. Furthermore, arginine-induced morphogenesis occurs more rapidly and independently of Dur1,2-catalyzed urea degradation, indicating that mitochondrial-generated ATP, not CO2, is the primary morphogenic signal derived from arginine metabolism. The important role of the SPS-sensor of extracellular amino acids in morphogenesis is the consequence of induced amino acid permease gene expression, i.e., SPS-sensor activation enhances the capacity of cells to take up morphogenic amino acids, a requisite for their catabolism. C. albicans cells engulfed by murine macrophages filament, resulting in macrophage lysis. Phagocytosed put1-/- and put2-/- cells do not filament and exhibit reduced viability, consistent with a critical role of mitochondrial proline metabolism in virulence.

Dal81 Regulates Expression of Arginine Metabolism Genes in Candida parapsilosis

Fungi can use a wide variety of nitrogen sources. In the absence of preferred sources such as ammonium, glutamate, and glutamine, secondary sources, including most other amino acids, are used. Expression of the nitrogen utilization pathways is very strongly controlled at the transcriptional level. Here, we investigated the regulation of nitrogen utilization in the pathogenic yeast Candida parapsilosis. We found that the functions of many regulators are conserved with respect to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi. For example, the core GATA activators GAT1 and GLN3 have a conserved role in nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). There is one ortholog of GZF3 and DAL80, which represses expression of genes in preferred nitrogen sources. The regulators PUT3 and UGA3 are required for metabolism of proline and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. However, the role of the Dal81 transcription factor is distinctly different. In S. cerevisiae, Dal81 is a positive regulator of acquisition of nitrogen from GABA, allantoin, urea, and leucine, and it is required for maximal induction of expression of the relevant pathway genes. In C. parapsilosis, induction of GABA genes is independent of Dal81, and deleting DAL81 has no effect on acquisition of nitrogen from GABA or allantoin. Instead, Dal81 represses arginine synthesis during growth under preferred nitrogen conditions. IMPORTANCE Utilization of nitrogen by fungi is controlled by nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). Expression of many genes is switched off during growth on nonpreferred nitrogen sources. Gene expression is regulated through a combination of activation and repression. Nitrogen regulation has been studied best in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that although many nitrogen regulators have a conserved function in Saccharomyces species, some do not. The Dal81 transcriptional regulator has distinctly different functions in S. cerevisiae and C. parapsilosis. In the former, it regulates utilization of nitrogen from GABA and allantoin, whereas in the latter, it regulates expression of arginine synthesis genes. Our findings make an important contribution to our understanding of nitrogen regulation in a human-pathogenic fungus.

Systematic Analysis of Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Regulation of Metabolism in Yeast

Cells react to extracellular perturbations with complex and intertwined responses. Systematic identification of the regulatory mechanisms that control these responses is still a challenge and requires tailored analyses integrating different types of molecular data. Here we acquired time-resolved metabolomics measurements in yeast under salt and pheromone stimulation and developed a machine learning approach to explore regulatory associations between metabolism and signal transduction. Existing phosphoproteomics measurements under the same conditions and kinase-substrate regulatory interactions were used to in silico estimate the enzymatic activity of signalling kinases. Our approach identified informative associations between kinases and metabolic enzymes capable of predicting metabolic changes. We extended our analysis to two studies containing transcriptomics, phosphoproteomics and metabolomics measurements across a comprehensive panel of kinases/phosphatases knockouts and time-resolved perturbations to the nitrogen metabolism. Changes in activity of transcription factors, kinases and phosphatases were estimated in silico and these were capable of building predictive models to infer the metabolic adaptations of previously unseen conditions across different dynamic experiments. Time-resolved experiments were significantly more informative than genetic perturbations to infer metabolic adaptation. This difference may be due to the indirect nature of the associations and of general cellular states that can hinder the identification of causal relationships. This work provides a novel genome-scale integrative analysis to propose putative transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms of metabolic processes.

Phosphorylation is a broad regulatory mechanism with implications in nearly all processes of the cell. However, a global understanding of possible regulatory mechanisms remains elusive. In this study, we examined the potential regulatory role of kinases, phosphatases and transcription-factors in yeast metabolism across a variety of steady-state and dynamic conditions. The main novelty of our analysis was to infer putative regulatory interactions from in silico estimated activity of transcription-factors and kinases/phosphatases. This provided functional information about the proteins important for the experimental conditions at hand that had not been uncovered before. We showed that activity profiles are predictive features to estimate metabolite changes in dynamic experiments, while the same was not visible in steady-state conditions. We also showed that dynamic experiments could be used to recapitulate and provide novel TFs-metabolite and K/Ps-metabolite regulatory associations. We believe these findings illustrates the usefulness of this approach for future integrative studies interested in studying metabolic regulation.

ChiNet uncovers rewired transcription subnetworks in tolerant yeast for advanced biofuels conversion

Analysis of rewired upstream subnetworks impacting downstream differential gene expression aids the delineation of evolving molecular mechanisms. Cumulative statistics based on conventional differential correlation are limited for subnetwork rewiring analysis since rewiring is not necessarily equivalent to change in correlation coefficients. Here we present a computational method ChiNet to quantify subnetwork rewiring by statistical heterogeneity that enables detection of potential genotype changes causing altered transcription regulation in evolving organisms. Given a differentially expressed downstream gene set, ChiNet backtracks a rewired upstream subnetwork from a super-network including gene interactions known to occur under various molecular contexts. We benchmarked ChiNet for its high accuracy in distinguishing rewired artificial subnetworks, in silico yeast transcription-metabolic subnetworks, and rewired transcription subnetworks for Candida albicans versus Saccharomyces cerevisiae, against two differential-correlation based subnetwork rewiring approaches. Then, using transcriptome data from tolerant S. cerevisiae strain NRRL Y-50049 and a wild-type intolerant strain, ChiNet identified 44 metabolic pathways affected by rewired transcription subnetworks anchored to major adaptively activated transcription factor genes YAP1, RPN4, SFP1 and ROX1, in response to toxic chemical challenges involved in lignocellulose-to-biofuels conversion. These findings support the use of ChiNet in rewiring analysis of subnetworks where differential interaction patterns resulting from divergent nonlinear dynamics abound.

Interchromosomal clustering of active genes at the nuclear pore complex

Genomes are spatially organized on many levels and the positioning of genes within the nucleus contributes to their proper expression. This positioning can also result in the clustering of genes with similar expression patterns, a phenomenon sometimes called "gene kissing." We have found that yeast genes are targeted to the nuclear periphery through interaction of the nuclear pore complex with small, cis-acting "DNA zip codes" in their promoters. Our recent study demonstrated that genes with the same zip codes cluster together at the nuclear periphery. The zip codes were necessary and sufficient to induce interchromosomal clustering. Finally, we identified a transcription factor (Put3) that binds to the GRS I zip code. Put3 binds to GRS I and is required for both GRS I-dependent positioning at the nuclear periphery and interchromosomal clustering of GRS I-targeted genes. We speculate that our findings might provide insight into other types of gene kissing, some of which also require cis-acting DNA sequences and trans-acting proteins.

Nuclear GPS for interchromosomal clustering

Nuclear architecture and the relative position of a gene can play roles in the regulation of its expression. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Brickner et al. (2012) analyze nuclear global positioning of genes and reveal that the Put3 transcription factor functions with cis-encoded DNA elements and nuclear pore complexes to regulate interchromosomal gene clustering.

Transcription factor binding to a DNA zip code controls interchromosomal clustering at the nuclear periphery

Active genes in yeast can be targeted to the nuclear periphery through interaction of cis-acting "DNA zip codes" with the nuclear pore complex. We find that genes with identical zip codes cluster together. This clustering was specific; pairs of genes that were targeted to the nuclear periphery by different zip codes did not cluster together. Insertion of two different zip codes (GRS I or GRS III) at an ectopic site induced clustering with endogenous genes that have that zip code. Targeting to the nuclear periphery and interaction with the nuclear pore is a prerequisite for gene clustering, but clustering can be maintained in the nucleoplasm. Finally, we find that the Put3 transcription factor recognizes the GRS I zip code to mediate both targeting to the NPC and interchromosomal clustering. These results suggest that zip-code-mediated clustering of genes at the nuclear periphery influences the three-dimensional arrangement of the yeast genome.

Pushing the limits of what is achievable in protein-DNA docking: benchmarking HADDOCK's performance

The intrinsic flexibility of DNA and the difficulty of identifying its interaction surface have long been challenges that prevented the development of efficient protein-DNA docking methods. We have demonstrated the ability our flexible data-driven docking method HADDOCK to deal with these before, by using custom-built DNA structural models. Here we put our method to the test on a set of 47 complexes from the protein-DNA docking benchmark. We show that HADDOCK is able to predict many of the specific DNA conformational changes required to assemble the interface(s). Our DNA analysis and modelling procedure captures the bend and twist motions occurring upon complex formation and uses these to generate custom-built DNA structural models, more closely resembling the bound form, for use in a second docking round. We achieve throughout the benchmark an overall success rate of 94% of one-star solutions or higher (interface root mean square deviation ≤4 A and fraction of native contacts >10%) according to CAPRI criteria. Our improved protocol successfully predicts even the challenging protein-DNA complexes in the benchmark. Finally, our method is the first to readily dock multiple molecules (N > 2) simultaneously, pushing the limits of what is currently achievable in the field of protein-DNA docking.

MlcR, a zinc cluster activator protein, is able to bind to a single (A/T)CGG site of cognate asymmetric motifs in the ML-236B (compactin) biosynthetic gene cluster

All of the binding sequences for MlcR, a transcriptional activator of ML-236B (compactin) biosynthetic genes in Penicillium citrinum, were identified by an in vitro gel-shift assay. All the identified sequences contain an asymmetric direct repeat comprised of conserved tetrad bases (A/T)CGG with a spacer sequence of high similarity; in particular, G at position 2 and T at position 3 in the spacer are well conserved. The first (A/T)CGG repeat was essential for MlcR-binding and MlcR could bind to this monomeric site, probably as a monomer. This binding feature might enable MlcR to tolerate the variation of the spacer length and compositions in vitro. From these data, we propose that the consensus binding motif for MlcR is an asymmetric direct repeat, 5'-(A/T)CGG-NGTN(3-6)-TCGG-3'.

Metabolic control of transcription: paradigms and lessons from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The comparatively simple eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae is composed of some 6000 individual genes. Specific sets of these genes can be transcribed co-ordinately in response to particular metabolic signals. The resultant integrated response to nutrient challenge allows the organism to survive and flourish in a variety of environmental conditions while minimal energy is expended upon the production of unnecessary proteins. The Zn(II)2Cys6 family of transcriptional regulators is composed of some 46 members in S. cerevisiae and many of these have been implicated in mediating transcriptional responses to specific nutrients. Gal4p, the archetypical member of this family, is responsible for the expression of the GAL genes when galactose is utilized as a carbon source. The regulation of Gal4p activity has been studied for many years, but we are still uncovering both nuances and fundamental control mechanisms that impinge on its function. In the present review, we describe the latest developments in the regulation of GAL gene expression and compare the mechanisms employed here with the molecular control of other Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional regulators. This reveals a wide array of protein-protein, protein-DNA and protein-nutrient interactions that are employed by this family of regulators.

Proteolytic turnover of the Gal4 transcription factor is not required for function in vivo

Transactivator-promoter complexes are essential intermediates in the activation of eukaryotic gene expression. Recent studies of these complexes have shown that some are quite dynamic in living cells owing to rapid and reversible disruption of activator-promoter complexes by molecular chaperones, or a slower, ubiquitin-proteasome-pathway-mediated turnover of DNA-bound activator. These mechanisms may act to ensure continued responsiveness of activators to signalling cascades by limiting the lifetime of the active protein-DNA complex. Furthermore, the potency of some activators is compromised by proteasome inhibition, leading to the suggestion that periodic clearance of activators from a promoter is essential for high-level expression. Here we describe a variant of the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay that has allowed direct observation of the kinetic stability of native Gal4-promoter complexes in yeast. Under non-inducing conditions, the complex is dynamic, but on induction the Gal4-promoter complexes 'lock in' and exhibit long half-lives. Inhibition of proteasome-mediated proteolysis had little or no effect on Gal4-mediated gene expression. These studies, combined with earlier data, show that the lifetimes of different transactivator-promoter complexes in vivo can vary widely and that proteasome-mediated turnover is not a general requirement for transactivator function.

The UGA3-GLT1 intergenic region constitutes a promoter whose bidirectional nature is determined by chromatin organization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transcription of an important number of divergent genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by intergenic regions, which constitute factual bidirectional promoters. However, few of such promoters have been characterized in detail. The analysis of the UGA3-GLT1 intergenic region has provided an interesting model to study the joint action of two global transcriptional activators that had been considered to act independently. Our results show that Gln3p and Gcn4p exert their effect upon cis-acting elements, which are shared in a bidirectional promoter. Accordingly, when yeast is grown on a low-quality nitrogen source, or under amino acid deprivation, the expression of both UGA3 and GLT1 is induced through the action of both these global transcriptional modulators that bind to a region of the bidirectional promoter. In addition, we demonstrate that chromatin organization plays a major role in the bidirectional properties of the UGA3-GLT1 promoter, through the action of an upstream Abf1p-binding consensus sequence and a polydAdT(tract). Mutations in these cis-elements differentially affect transcription of UGA3 and GLT1, and thus alter the overall relative expression. This is the first example of an intergenic region constituting a promoter whose bidirectional character is determined by chromatin organization.

The analysis of the transcriptional activator PrnA reveals a tripartite nuclear localisation sequence

Nuclear localisation signals (NLSs) have been classified as either mono- or bipartite. Genetic analysis and GFP fusions show that the NLS of a Zn-binuclear cluster transcriptional activator of Aspergillus nidulans (PrnA) is tripartite. This NLS comprises two amino-terminal basic sequences and the first basic sequence of the Zn-cluster. Neither the two amino-terminal basic sequences nor the paradigmatic nucleoplasmin bipartite NLS drive our construction to the nucleus. Cryosensitive mutations in the second basic sequence are suppressed by mutations that restore the basicity of the domain. The integrity of the Zn-cluster is not necessary for nuclear localisation. A tandem repetition of the two basic amino-terminal sequences results in a strong NLS. Complete nuclear localisation is observed when the whole DNA-binding domain, including the putative dimerisation element, is included in the construction. At variance with what is seen with tandem NLSs, all fluorescence here is intra-nuclear. This suggests that retention and nuclear entry are functionally different. With the whole PrnA protein, we observe localisation, retention and also a striking sub-localisation within the nucleus. Nuclear localisation and sub-localisation are constitutive (not dependent on proline induction). In contrast with what has been observed by others in A. nidulans, none of our constructions are delocalised during mitosis. This is the first analysis of the NLS of a Zn-binuclear cluster protein and the first characterisation of a tripartite NLS.

The coiled coil dimerization element of the yeast transcriptional activator Hap1, a Gal4 family member, is dispensable for DNA binding but differentially affects transcriptional activation

The heme activator protein Hap1 is a member of the yeast Gal4 family, which consists of transcription factors with a conserved Zn(2)Cys(6) cluster that recognizes a CGG triplet. Many members of the Gal4 family contain a coiled coil dimerization element and bind symmetrically to DNA as homodimers. However, Hap1 possesses two unique properties. First, Hap1 binds asymmetrically to a direct repeat of two CGG triplets. Second, Hap1 binds to two classes of DNA elements, UAS1/CYC1 and UAS/CYC7, and permits differential transcriptional activation at these sites. Here we determined the residues of the Hap1 dimerization domain critical for DNA binding and differential transcriptional activation. We found that the Hap1 dimerization domain is composed of functionally redundant elements that can substitute each other in DNA binding and transcriptional activation. Remarkably, deletion of the coiled coil dimerization element did not severely diminish DNA binding and transcriptional activation at UAS1/CYC1 but completely abolished transcriptional activation at UAS/CYC7. Furthermore, Ala substitutions in the dimerization element selectively diminished transcriptional activation at UAS/CYC7. These results strongly suggest that the coiled coil dimerization element is responsible for differential transcriptional activation at UAS1/CYC1 and UAS/CYC7 and for making contacts with a putative coactivator or part of the transcription machinery.

The yeast heme-responsive transcriptional activator Hap1 is a preexisting dimer in the absence of heme

In the absence of heme, Hap1 is associated with molecular chaperones such as Hsp90 and Ydj1 and forms a higher order complex termed HMC. Heme disrupts this complex and permits Hap1 to bind to DNA with high affinity, thereby activating transcription. Heme regulation of Hap1 activity is analogous to the regulation of steroid receptors by steroids, which involves molecular chaperones. Steroid receptors often exist as monomers when associated with molecular chaperones in the absence of ligand but as dimers when activated by steroids. Furthermore, previous studies indicate that dimerization might be important for heme activation of Hap1. We therefore determined whether Hap1 is a monomer or oligomer in the absence of heme. By coeluting two Hap1 size variants and by comparing DNA binding properties of the HMC and Hap1 dimer, we show that Hap1 is a preexisting dimer in the HMC. Further, increasing overexpression of Hap1 caused progressive increases in Hap1 DNA binding and transcriptional activities. Our data suggest that in the absence of heme, Hap1 exists as a dimer, and the two subunits act cooperatively in DNA binding. Hap1 repression is caused, at least in part, by inhibition of the DNA binding activity of the preexisting dimer.

A linker region of the yeast zinc cluster protein leu3p specifies binding to everted repeat DNA

Yeast zinc cluster proteins form a major class of yeast transcriptional regulators. They usually bind as homodimers to target DNA sequences, with each monomer recognizing a CGG triplet. Orientation and spacing between the CGG triplet specifies the recognition sequence for a given zinc cluster protein. For instance, Gal4p binds to inverted CGG triplets spaced by 11 base pairs whereas Ppr1p recognizes a similar motif but with a spacing of 6 base pairs. Hap1p, another member of this family, binds to a direct repeat consisting of two CGG triplets. Other members of this family, such as Leu3p, also recognize CGG triplets but when oriented in opposite directions, an everted repeat. This implies that the two zinc clusters of Leu3p bound to an everted repeat must be oriented in opposite directions to those of Gal4p or Ppr1p bound to inverted repeats. In order to map the domain responsible for proper orientation of the zinc clusters of Leu3p, we constructed chimeric proteins between Leu3p and Ppr1p and tested their binding to a Leu3p and a Ppr1p site. Our results show that the linker region, which bridges the zinc cluster to the dimerization domain, specifies binding of Leu3p to an everted repeat. We propose that the Leu3p linker projects the two zinc clusters of a Leu3p homodimer in opposite directions allowing binding to everted repeats.

Zinc cluster proteins Leu3p and Uga3p recognize highly related but distinct DNA targets

Members of the family of fungal zinc cluster DNA-binding proteins possess 6 highly conserved cysteines that bind to two zinc atoms forming a structure (Zn2Cys6) that is required for recognition of specific DNA sequences. Many zinc cluster proteins have been shown to bind as homodimers to a pair of CGG triplets oriented either as direct (CGG NX CGG), inverted (CGG NX CCG), or everted repeats (CCG NX CGG), where N indicates nucleotides. Variation in the spacing between the CGG triplets also contributes to the diversity of sites recognized. For example, Leu3p binds to the everted sequence CCG N4 CGG with a strict requirement for a 4-base pair spacing. Here, we show that another member of the family, Uga3p, recognizes the same DNA motif as Leu3p. However, these transcription factors have distinct DNA targets. We demonstrate that additional specificity of binding is provided by nucleotides located between the two everted CGG triplets. Altering the 4 nucleotides between to the two everted CGG triplets switches the specificity from a Uga3p site to a Leu3p site in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Thus, our results identify a new mechanism that expands the repertoire of DNA targets of the family of zinc cluster proteins. These experiments provide a model for discrimination between targets of zinc cluster proteins.

Sequence, exon-intron organization, transcription and mutational analysis of prnA, the gene encoding the transcriptional activator of the prn gene cluster in Aspergillus nidulans

The prnA gene codes for a transcriptional activator that mediates proline induction of four other genes involved in proline utilization as a nitrogen and/or carbon source in Aspergillus nidulans. In this paper, we present the genomic and cDNA sequence and the transcript map of prnA. The PrnA protein belongs to the Zn binuclear cluster family of transcriptional activators. The gene shows a striking intron-exon organization, with the putative nuclear localization sequence and the Zn cluster domain in discrete exons. Although the protein sequence presents some interesting similarities with the isofunctional protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Put3p, a higher degree of similarity is found with a functionally unrelated protein Thi1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. A number of mutations mapping in the prnA gene were sequenced. This comprises a deletion that results in an almost complete loss of the prnA-specific mRNA, a mutation in the putative nuclear localization signal, a proline to leucine mutation in the second loop of the zinc cluster and a cold-sensitive mutation in the so-called 'central region'. Other complete or partial loss of function mutations map in regions of unknown function. We establish that the transcription of the gene is neither self-regulated nor significantly affected by carbon and/or nitrogen metabolite repression.

Crystal structure of a PUT3-DNA complex reveals a novel mechanism for DNA recognition by a protein containing a Zn2Cys6 binuclear cluster

PUT3 is a member of a family of at least 79 fungal transcription factors that contain a six-cysteine, two-zinc domain called a 'Zn2Cys6 binuclear cluster'. We have determined the crystal structure of the DNA binding region from the PUT3 protein bound to its cognate DNA target. The structure reveals that the PUT3 homodimer is bound asymmetrically to the DNA site. This asymmetry orients a beta-strand from one protein subunit into the minor groove of the DNA resulting in a partial amino acid-base pair intercalation and extensive direct and water-mediated protein interactions with the minor groove of the DNA. These interactions facilitate a sequence dependent kink at the centre of the DNA site and specify the intervening base pairs separating two DNA half-sites that are contacted in the DNA major groove. A comparison with the GAL4-DNA and PPR1-DNA complexes shows how a family of related DNA binding proteins can use a diverse set of mechanisms to discriminate between the base pairs separating conserved DNA half-sites.

Evolution of a fungal regulatory gene family: the Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster DNA binding motif

The coevolution of DNA binding proteins and their cognate binding sites is essential for the maintenance of function. As a result, comparison of DNA binding proteins of unknown function in one species with characterized DNA binding proteins in another can identify potential targets and functions. The Zn(II)2Cys6 (or C6 zinc) binuclear cluster DNA binding domain has thus far been identified exclusively in fungal proteins, generally transcriptional regulators, and there are more than 80 known or predicted proteins which contain this motif, the best characterized of which are GAL4, PPR1, LEU3, HAP1, LAC9, and PUT3. Here we review all known proteins containing the Zn(II)2Cys6 motif, along with their function, DNA binding, dimerization, and zinc(II) coordination properties and DNA binding sites. In addition, we have identified all of the Zn(II)2Cys6 motif-containing proteins in the sequence databases, including a large number with unknown function from the completed Saccharomyces cerevisiae and ongoing Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome projects, and examined the phylogenetic relationships of all the Zn(II)2Cys6 motifs from these proteins. Based on these relationships, we have assigned potential functions to a number of these unknown proteins.

Some DNA targets of the yeast CYP1 transcriptional activator are functionally asymmetric--evidence of two half-sites with different affinities

CYP1 protein is a yeast transcriptional regulator which contains a zinc cluster in its DNA-binding domain. It was recently shown by selecting random CYP1 binding sites that CYP1 protein recognizes with a higher affinity targets containing the CGGNNNTANCGG consensus sequence. Notably, this ideal sequence is however not found in wild-type CYP1 target sites. In order to investigate how CYP1 protein actually binds to its targets, mutations were introduced in three of them (UAS1-A/CYC1, UAS1-A/CYB2, UAS/CYC7) and the consequences towards the binding of purified CYP1-(1-200)-peptide were analyzed. Our data support the following conclusions: (a) When the sequence element contains two CGGs and no TA, both CGGs are essential for binding. (b) If the sequence element contains only the right CGG and the TA, both are sufficient but indispensable for the binding of CYP1. (c) When two CGCs and the TA are present, the right CGC, and not the left one, is essential for the binding of CYP1. (d) CYP1-(1-200)-peptide is usually a monomer in solution but binds DNA as a dimer. Finally, we found evidence for the presence of two half-sites with different measured affinities in the asymmetric sequences of some CYP1 targets.

The C6 zinc cluster dictates asymmetric binding by HAP1

Unlike other C6 zinc cluster proteins such as GAL4 and PPR1, HAP1 binds selectively to asymmetric DNA sites containing a direct repeat of two CGG triplets. Here, we show that the HAP1 zinc cluster is solely responsible for asymmetric binding by HAP1. An asymmetric interaction between two zinc clusters of a HAP1 dimer must position the zinc clusters in a directly repeated orientation, and enable them to recognize two CGG triplets in a direct repeat. Further, our data suggest that this asymmetric interaction acts cooperatively with the interaction between dimerization elements to promote HAP1 dimerization, and locks HAP1-DNA complexes in a stable, dimeric conformation.

Functional analysis of the PUT3 transcriptional activator of the proline utilization pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Proline can serve as a nitrogen source for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae when preferred sources of nitrogen are absent from the growth medium. PUT3, the activator of the proline utilization pathway, is required for the transcription of the genes encoding the enzymes that convert proline to glutamate. PUT3 is a 979 amino acid protein that constitutively binds a short DNA sequence to the promoters of its target genes, but does not activate their expression in the absence of induction by proline and in the presence of preferred sources of nitrogen. To understand how PUT3 is converted from an inactive to an active state, a dissection of its functional domains has been undertaken. Biochemical and molecular tests, domain swapping experiments, and an analysis of activator-constitutive and activator-defective mutant proteins indicate that PUT3 is dimeric and activates transcription with its negatively charged carboxyterminus, which does not appear to contain a proline-responsive domain. A mutation in the conserved central domain found in many fungal activators interferes with activation without affecting DNA binding protein stability. Intragenic suppressors of the central domain mutation have been isolated and analyzed.

The roles of PUT3, URE2, and GLN3 regulatory proteins in the proline utilization pathway ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can use alternative nitrogen sources such as allantoin, urea, γ-aminobutyrate, or proline when preferred nitrogen sources such as asparagine, glutamine, or ammonium ions are unavailable in the environment. To use proline as the sole nitrogen source, cells must activate the expression of the proline transporters and the genes that encode the catabolic enzymes proline oxidase (PUT1) and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (PUT2). Transcriptional activation of the PUT genes requires the PUT3 regulatory protein, proline, and relief from nitrogen repression. PUT3 is a 979 amino acid protein that binds a short DNA sequence in the promoters of PUT1 and PUT2, independent of the presence of proline. The functional domains of PUT3 have been studied by biochemical and molecular tests and analysis of activator-constitutive and activator-defective mutant proteins. Mutations in the URE2 gene relieve nitrogen repression, permitting inducer-independent transcription of the PUT genes in the presence of repressing nitrogen sources. The GLN3 protein that activates the expression of many genes in alternative nitrogen source pathways is not required for the expression of the PUT genes under inducing, derepressing conditions (proline) or noninducing, repressing conditions (ammonia). Although it has been speculated that the URE2 protein antagonizes the action of GLN3 in the regulation of many nitrogen assimilatory pathways, URE2 appears to act independently of GLN3 in the proline-utilization pathway. Key words: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proline utilization, nitrogen repression.

UASNTR functioning in combination with other UAS elements underlies exceptional patterns of nitrogen regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

UASNTR, the UAS responsible for nitrogen catabolite repression-sensitive transcriptional activation of many nitrogen catabolic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been previously thought to operate only as a pair of closely related dodecanucleotide sites each containing the sequence GATAA at its core. Here we show that a single UASNTR the unrelated cis-acting element was TTTGTTTAC situated upstream of GLN1, while in another the cis-acting element was the one previously shown to bind the PUT3 protein. When a UASNTR site functions in combination with an unrelated site, the regulatory responses observed are a hybrid consisting of characteristics derived from both the UASNTR site and the unrelated site as well. These observations resolve several significant inconsistencies that have plagued studies focused on elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the global regulation of nitrogen catabolism.

Isolation and characterization of the SUD1 gene, which encodes a global repressor of core promoter activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The SUD1 gene was identified during a hunt for mutants that are able to express an sta1 gene (encoding an extracellular glucoamylase) lacking an upstream activation sequence (UAS) for transcription. A null allele of sud1 alleviated the transcriptional defect of the UAS-less sta1 and also suppressed mutations in trans-acting genes (GAM1/SNF2 and GAM3/ADR6) required for transcription of STA1. The mutation also increased expression from various core promoters (CYC1, CUP1, HIS3, PUT1, and PUT2), suggesting that the SUD1 protein is a global transcriptional regulator that plays a negative role at or near the TATA element. However, the SUD1 function was ineffective on promoters containing a UAS from either STA1 or GAL10 under derepressed conditions. The sud1 mutation suppressed the salt-sensitive cell growth phenotype caused by elevated levels of the TATA-binding protein (SPT15), further suggesting a transcriptional role for SUD1. sud1 cells showed additional pleiotropic phenotypes: temperature-sensitive (ts) growth, reduced efficiencies of sporulation, and sensitivity to heat shock and nitrogen starvation. The SUD1 gene is predicted to encode a 64 kDa, hydrophilic protein.