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. 1995 May;140(1):79–90. doi: 10.1093/genetics/140.1.79

Identification of Genes Required for α2 Repression in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

M Wahi 1, A D Johnson 1
PMCID: PMC1206574  PMID: 7635311

Abstract

Transcriptional repression of the a-specific genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae α cells involves the concerted action of several proteins. The homeodomain protein α2, together with MCM1, recruits two general transcriptional repressors, SSN6 and TUP1, to the promoters of a-specific genes. SSN6 and TUP1 then mediate repression of the a-specific genes. SIN4, another general negative regulator, is required for this repression, but unlike tup1 or ssn6 deletions, sin4 deletions cause only partial loss of repression. We have screened for other genes required for a-specific gene repression in α cells. In addition to recovering multiple alleles of previously identified genes required for this process (referred to as α2 repression), we have identified four other genes, designated ARE1, ARE2, ARE3, and ARE4 (for alpha2 repression). Recessive mutations in the ARE genes cause partial loss of a-specific gene repression and cause pleiotropic phenotypes similar to those resulting from mutations in SSN6, TUP1, or SIN4, suggesting that the ARE genes are general negative regulators. Based on our initial analysis, we propose that two distinct classes of general negative regulators cooperate to bring about full levels of α2 repression. The sequence of ARE1 revealed that it encodes a CDC28-related protein kinase, identical to UME5, and thus suggests that protein phosphorylation plays a role in α2 repression.

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Selected References

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