A gene controlling the synthesis of non specific alkaline phosphatase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Isolation of yeast genes with mRNA levels controlled by phosphate concentration

A library of DNA from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was constructed in phage lambda Charon 4 vector and then screened by differential plaque filter hybridization for genes induced by phosphate starvation. Two EcoRI fragments of 7.9 and 5.0 kilobase pairs that contained such genes were isolated. These cloned fragments may each carry one of the several copies of the genes for the repressible acid phosphatase of yeast. The fragments were use to examine mRNA levels of these genes in regulatory mutants of acid phosphatase.

In vitro synthesis of repressible yeast acid phosphatase: identification of multiple mRNAs and products

Antibodies to repressible nonspecific acid phosphatase [APase; orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum), EC 3.1.3.2] purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used to detect the in vitro products of APase mRNA. Immunoprecipitation of cell-free synthesized protein and of in vivo enzyme from cell extracts has shown that derepression of enzyme synthesis in situ is the result of de novo appearance of functional mRNA followed by de novo protein synthesis. At least three unique APase polypeptides are synthesized in vitro from separate mRNAs and appear to be glycosylated in vivo to form secreted enzyme.

Function of positive regulatory gene gal4 in the synthesis of galactose pathway enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evidence that the GAL81 region codes for part of the gal4 protein

A meiotic fine structure map of the gal4 locus was constructed, which extended over 0.44 units on the chromosome (units in percent frequency of supposed recombination). Several nonsense gal4 mutations (four UAA and two supposed UGA [gal4-62 and gal4-69]) were placed at various sites on the map. In reversion experiments with 20 independently isolated gal4 mutants, only the gal4-62 and gal4-69 alleles, which are located at the same site on the map, could revert to overcome the superrepression of gal80s-1 spontaneously with a frequency of approximately 4 x 10(-7). Secondary mutations in the revertants occurred in the region of gal4-62 or were due to unlinked suppressors. A total of 15 GAL81 mutations in 19 isolates were found to be located in the same region as gal4-62 by three-point crosses with the aid of gal4 mutants; the other four could not be analyzed. The reverted gal4 gene and GAL81 mutations were semidominant over the wild-type GAL4+ allele and fully dominant over a nonsense gal4 mutation. Four suppressors (one dominant and three recessive) effective against gal4-62 and gal4-69 were isolated. The dominant suppressor was also effective against three independent, authentic auxotrophic UGA nonsense mutations, and one of the three recessive suppressors were effective against the authentic auxotrophic UAA and UAG mutations. These results strongly support the idea that the gal4 locus is expressed constitutively and codes for a regulatory protein. The GAL81 site mapped inside the locus codes for a part of the gal4 protein but does not work as an operator.

Posttranslational regulation of repressible acid phosphatase in yeast

On the basis of genetic data it has been suggested that repressible acid phosphatase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by a control circuit involving operator-repressor mechanisms (Toh-e et al., 1978). We measured no significant difference in the amount of translatable mRNA of repressed and derepressed cells in the reticulocyte in vitro translation system. We find a 25 fold difference in specific enzyme activity in repressed versus derepressed cells whereas the amount of 35S-methionine labelled enzyme protein as measured by antibody precipitation varies only 2-3 fold. This argues for posttranslational regulation of preexisting inactive acid phosphatase. Minor regulatory effects at the transcriptional or translational level cannot be excluded.

Disturbance of the machinery for the gene expression by acidic pH in the repressible acid phosphatase system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

When the pH of growth medium containing a limited amount of inorganic phosphate is kept below 3.0, cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae produce repressible alkaline phosphatase but no repressible acid phosphatase. The same cells produce acid phosphatase immediately on shifting the medium pH to 4.0 or above. Like intact cells, spheroplasts prepared from cells grown at pH 3.0 or 4.5 in medium with a limited amount of inorganic phosphate in suspension begin production of acid phosphatase immediately after pH shift from below 3.0 to 4.0 whereas sheroplasts from cells grown in inorganic phosphate-rich medium showed a prolonged lag period (3 h). The enzyme formation on the pH shift was sensitive to cycloheximide. No significant differences could be detected in cellular growth or in incorporation of 3H-L-lysine or 14C-adenine between cells cultivated at pH 3.0 and 4.5. These results along with the fact that the expression of structural genes of repressible acid and alkaline phosphatases is controlled by a common genetic regulatory system, at least in part, indicate that the genetic regulatory system operates to express the structural genes even at low pH, though the expression of repressible acid phosphatase is interrupted. Coupled experiments of temperature and pH shifts with the temperature-sensitive mutants of the regulatory genes suggest that the acidic pH affects the function of the cytoplasmic products of those genes in the expression of the structural gene. Based on these observations, a revised model involving the simultaneous functioning of the regulatory factors was suggested for the genetic regulation of repressible acid phosphatase synthesis.