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. 1989 Feb;9(2):421–429. doi: 10.1128/mcb.9.2.421

A cysteine-rich nuclear protein activates yeast metallothionein gene transcription.

M S Szczypka 1, D J Thiele 1
PMCID: PMC362617  PMID: 2651899

Abstract

The ACE1 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for copper-inducible transcription of the metallothionein gene (CUP1). The sequence of the cloned ACE1 gene predicted an open reading frame for translation of a 225-amino-acid polypeptide. This polypeptide was characterized by an amino-terminal half rich in cysteine residues and positively charged amino acids. The arrangement of many of the 12 cysteines in the configuration Cys-X-Cys or Cys-X-X-Cys suggested that the ACE1 protein may bind metal ions. The carboxyl-terminal half of the ACE1 protein was devoid of cysteines but was highly acidic in nature. The ability of a bifunctional ACE1-beta-galactosidase fusion protein to accumulate in yeast cell nuclei was consistent with the possibility that ACE1 plays a direct role in the regulation of copper-inducible transcription of the yeast metallothionein gene.

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Selected References

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