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. 1991 Aug;11(8):4228–4234. doi: 10.1128/mcb.11.8.4228

Striking similarities between the regulatory mechanisms governing yeast mating-type genes and mammalian major histocompatibility complex genes.

J D Weissman 1, D S Singer 1
PMCID: PMC361249  PMID: 2072916

Abstract

Expression of a mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene is in part regulated by a silencer DNA sequence element which binds a complex of silencer factors. This negative regulatory system is shown to be strikingly similar to the yeast alpha 2 mating-type repression system. A moderate DNA sequence homology exists between the MHC class I silencer DNA element and the yeast alpha 2 operator. Mammalian silencer factors specifically bind to the yeast alpha 2 operator DNA and also specifically interact with a yeast alpha 2-binding protein. Furthermore, the alpha 2 operator functions as a silencer element in mammalian cells when placed upstream of a MHC class I promoter.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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