Transcription of a dictyostelium discoidin-i gene in yeast alternative promoter sites used in two different eukaryotic cells

Two alternative promoters direct neuron-specific expression of the rat microtubule-associated protein 1B gene

Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) is a major constituent of the neuronal cytoskeleton that is expressed at high levels during early brain development and plays a role in axonal growth and neuronal plasticity. Previous studies suggested that the regulation of its gene expression is primarily at the transcriptional level. Thus, the characterization of the promoter region should help to define regulatory elements that control neuron-specific and developmental expression of the MAP1B gene. We have isolated genomic clones containing up to 11 kb of the upstream region of the rat MAP1B gene, sequenced approximately 1.8 kb upstream from the translation start codon, and identified several consensus sequences. These sequences include a consensus element common to several neuronal genes, a TCC repeat, a cAMP response element, and two TATA boxes that were 134 nucleotides apart from each other. S1 nuclease and RNase protection assays identified two corresponding groups of transcription initiation sites that were used selectively in distinct regions of the nervous system and during different stages of development. Transient transfection assays with neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines demonstrated that each TATA sequence and its corresponding adjacent region could independently direct neuron-specific expression of a reporter gene. Furthermore, the transcription of the reporter gene was initiated from the same sites as those of the MAP1B gene in vivo. These results suggest that two alternative and overlapping promoters, one inducible and the other constitutive, regulate the temporal and tissue-specific expression of the rat MAP1B gene.

Expression of the major heat shock gene of Drosophila melanogaster in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A copy of the gene which encodes the major heat shock protein (hsp70) of D. melanogaster was integrated in both orientations into the genome of S. cerevisiae at the leu2 locus. The level of transcript from the D. melanogaster gene was measured under both normal conditions and conditions which are known to give rise to the heat shock response in S. cerevisiae. In both orientations the D. melanogaster gene gave rise to an abundant transcript in uninduced cells. The level of this transcript was increased transiently on heat shock, peaking after about 30 min at the elevated temperature. The average induction observed was around 5-fold. Although the D. melanogaster gene is heat inducible in S. cerevisiae, the transcripts are initiated at several sites which lie between 10 and 40 base pairs downstream of the initiation site in D. melanogaster. Thus, the transcriptional apparatus of S. cerevisiae appears to recognize the promoter and regulatory elements of the D. melanogaster major heat shock gene, although the manner in which transcription is initiated differs between the two species.

Yeast promoters URA1 and URA3. Examples of positive control

Transcription of the two unlinked structural genes URA1 and URA3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is positively regulated by the gene product PPR1. We have used S1 digestion and primer extension mapping to investigate the RNAs produced in different genetic backgrounds: wild-type, ppr1 deletion mutants, constitutively induced and non-inducible ppr1 mutants. Results show that each structural gene specifies multiple messenger RNA classes with different 5'-terminal sequences. The basal level of these transcripts does not require a functional PPR1 gene. Induction of URA1 results from an even increase of the level of synthesis of all the transcripts in contrast to that of URA3 which is effected by selectively increasing the levels of synthesis of one subset of transcripts. The PPR1-mediated control was also studied in the foreign genetic background of Schizosaccharomyces pombe using autonomously replicating hybrid plasmids carrying the gene URA1 or URA3 along with the regulatory gene PPR1, either in a constitutive or non-inducible allelic form. The 5' ends of the transcripts URA1 and URA3 made in S. pombe map upstream from the initiation sites used in S. cerevisiae. In contrast to S. cerevisiae, in S. pombe the URA3 but not URA1 transcripts respond to the PPR1-induction. We have identified a minimal control region for the PPR1-specific induction of URA1, that includes sequences located between the T-A-T-A box and the translation start codon. This region contains sequence features in common with URA3. There is an extensive alternating Pu:Py region including the T-A-T-A box of both promoters and an eight base-pair exact homology; further downstream, there is another 11 base-pair highly conserved sequence which either overlaps or lies in close proximity to the unregulated start sites of URA1 in S. pombe and of URA3 in S. cerevisiae. A positive regulatory model taking into accounts all these observations is presented.

Transcription of the human adenovirus E1a gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The early region 1a (E1a) and its flanking sequences of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) have been cloned in the yeast-Escherichia coli shuttle vector YEp13 and transferred into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The E1a-specific RNAs were produced in the transformed yeast cells. The 5' ends of these transcripts were capped but were lacking 10 to 45 nucleotides from the 5' end of the proper E1a mRNA. These transcripts terminated approx. 1000 nucleotides downstream from the proper 3' end. No splicing of the E1a-specific RNA could be detected in the yeast cells.

Repeated consensus sequence and pseudopromoters in the four coordinately regulated tubulin genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardi

The 5' coding and promoter regions of the four coordinately regulated tubulin genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardi have been mapped and sequenced. DNA sequencing data shows that the predicted N-terminal amino acid sequences of Chlamydomonas alpha- and beta-tubulins closely match that of tubulins of other eucaryotes. Within the alpha 1- and alpha 2-tubulin gene set and the beta 1- and beta 2-tubulin gene set, both nucleotide sequence and intron placement are highly conserved. Transcription initiation sites have been located by primer extension analysis at 140, 141, 159, and 132 base pairs upstream of the translation initiator codon for the alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, and beta 2-tubulin genes, respectively. Among the structures with potential regulatory significance, the most striking is a 16-base-pair consensus sequence [GCTC(G/C)AAGGC(G/T)(G/C)--(C/A)(C/A)G] which is found in multiple copies immediately upstream of the TATA box in each of the four genes. An unexpected discovery is the presence of pseudopromoter regions in two of the transcribed tubulin genes. One pseudopromoter region is located 400 base pairs upstream of the authentic alpha 2-tubulin gene promoter, whereas the other is located within the transcribed 5' noncoding region of the beta 1-tubulin gene.

Repetitive Dictyostelium heat-shock promotor functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Dictyostelium genome contains 40 copies of a 4.7-kilobase repetitive and apparently transposable DNA sequence (DIRS-1) and about 250 smaller elements that appear to be deletions or rearrangements of DIRS-1. Transcripts of these sequences are induced during differentiation and also by heat shock treatment of growing cells. We showed that one such cloned element, pB41.6 (2.5 kilobases) contains a nucleotide sequence identical to the Drosophila consensus heat shock promotor. To test whether this sequence might indeed control the expression of DIRS-1-related RNAs, we have cloned this genomic segment into yeast cells. In yeast cells, 41.6 directs synthesis of a 1.7-kilobase RNA that is induced at least 10-fold by heat shock. Transcription initiates at about 124 bases 3' of the putative promotor sequence and terminates within the 41.6 insert. A 381-base-pair subclone that contains the putative promotor sequence is sufficient to induce the heat shock response of 41.6 in yeast cells.

Repeated consensus sequence and pseudopromoters in the four coordinately regulated tubulin genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardi

The 5' coding and promoter regions of the four coordinately regulated tubulin genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardi have been mapped and sequenced. DNA sequencing data shows that the predicted N-terminal amino acid sequences of Chlamydomonas alpha- and beta-tubulins closely match that of tubulins of other eucaryotes. Within the alpha 1- and alpha 2-tubulin gene set and the beta 1- and beta 2-tubulin gene set, both nucleotide sequence and intron placement are highly conserved. Transcription initiation sites have been located by primer extension analysis at 140, 141, 159, and 132 base pairs upstream of the translation initiator codon for the alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, and beta 2-tubulin genes, respectively. Among the structures with potential regulatory significance, the most striking is a 16-base-pair consensus sequence [GCTC(G/C)AAGGC(G/T)(G/C)--(C/A)(C/A)G] which is found in multiple copies immediately upstream of the TATA box in each of the four genes. An unexpected discovery is the presence of pseudopromoter regions in two of the transcribed tubulin genes. One pseudopromoter region is located 400 base pairs upstream of the authentic alpha 2-tubulin gene promoter, whereas the other is located within the transcribed 5' noncoding region of the beta 1-tubulin gene.

Repetitive Dictyostelium heat-shock promotor functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Dictyostelium genome contains 40 copies of a 4.7-kilobase repetitive and apparently transposable DNA sequence (DIRS-1) and about 250 smaller elements that appear to be deletions or rearrangements of DIRS-1. Transcripts of these sequences are induced during differentiation and also by heat shock treatment of growing cells. We showed that one such cloned element, pB41.6 (2.5 kilobases) contains a nucleotide sequence identical to the Drosophila consensus heat shock promotor. To test whether this sequence might indeed control the expression of DIRS-1-related RNAs, we have cloned this genomic segment into yeast cells. In yeast cells, 41.6 directs synthesis of a 1.7-kilobase RNA that is induced at least 10-fold by heat shock. Transcription initiates at about 124 bases 3' of the putative promotor sequence and terminates within the 41.6 insert. A 381-base-pair subclone that contains the putative promotor sequence is sufficient to induce the heat shock response of 41.6 in yeast cells.

A DNA sequence from Dictyostelium discoideum complements ura3 and ura5 mutations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A 3.7 kilobase fragment of Dictyostelium discoideum genomic DNA has been cloned by its ability to complement a yeast ura3 mutation affecting the activity of orotidine-5'-phosphate carboxy-lyase (EC 4.1.1.23). This fragment also complements a yeast ura5 mutation that leads to a defect in orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (EC 2.4.2.10). The orotidine-5'-phosphate carboxy-lyase and the orotate phosphoribosyl transferase activities that result from Dictyostelium gene expression in yeast have been detected. The size of the DNA required for both complementations has been localised to a segment of less than 2 kb. A unique Dictyostelium RNA species of 1,600 base pairs hybridizes to this fragment. In vitro deletions in this fragment lead to the simultaneous loss of the two activities. The two enzymatic activities coelute as a protein of 120,000 daltons during gel filtration of a Dictyostelium extract. These results favour the existence, on the cloned Dictyostelium DNA fragment, of a unique structural gene which codes for a bifunctional enzyme carrying the two activities, orotidine-5'-phosphate carboxy-lyase and orotate phosphoribosyl transferase.