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. 1990 Sep 11;18(17):5213–5217. doi: 10.1093/nar/18.17.5213

Genetic evidence for similar negative regulatory domains in the yeast transcription activators GAL4 and LAC9.

R C Dickson 1, C J Gerardot 1, A K Martin 1
PMCID: PMC332144  PMID: 2205838

Abstract

The GAL4 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the LAC9 protein of Kluyveromyces lactis are transcription activator proteins with similar structure and function. Greatest similarity occurs in the C region near the carboxy terminus, where 16 of 18 amino acids are identical. The function of the C region is unclear. Here we show that the structural similarity is reflected in functional similarity. Single amino acid changes in the C region of GAL4 and LAC9 create a similar phenotype: constitutive gene expression. In S. cerevisiae the constitutive phenotype caused by GAL4 mutants can be abolished by overproduction of GAL80. These results support a model in which the C region of GAL4 and LAC9 constitute similar negative regulatory domains that interact with GAL80 in S. cerevisiae and an unidentified GAL80 homolog in K. lactis. This protein-protein interaction prevents expression of the galactose operon in the uninduced state.

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Selected References

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