Regulation of HIS4-lacZ fusions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Isolation and characterization of the RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and inviability of rad3 deletion mutants

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for nicking of DNA containing pyrimidine dimers or interstrand crosslinks. We have cloned the RAD3 gene and physically mapped it to 2.6 kilobase of DNA. A DNA segment of the cloned RAD3 insert was ligated into plasmid YIp5, which transforms yeast by homologous integration, and shown to integrate at the RAD3 site in chromosome V, thus verifying the cloned DNA segment to be the RAD3 gene and not a suppressor. The RAD3 gene encodes a 2.5-kilobase mRNA, extending between the Kpn I site and the Sau3A1/BamHI fusion junction in plasmid pSP10, and the direction of transcription has been determined. The 2.5-kilobase transcript could encode a protein of about 90,000 daltons. We also show the deletions of the RAD3 gene to be recessive lethals, indicating that the RAD3 gene plays an important role in other cellular processes in addition to incision of damaged DNA.

Regulation of the heme A biosynthetic pathway: differential regulation of heme A synthase and heme O synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The assembly and activity of cytochrome c oxidase is dependent on the availability of heme A, one of its essential cofactors. In eukaryotes, two inner mitochondrial membrane proteins, heme O synthase (Cox10) and heme A synthase (Cox15), are required for heme A biosynthesis. In this report, we demonstrate that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae the transcription of COX15 is regulated by Hap1, a transcription factor whose activity is positively controlled by intracellular heme concentration. Conversely, COX10, the physiological partner of COX15, does not share the same regulatory mechanism with COX15. Interestingly, protein quantification identified an 8:1 protein ratio between Cox15 and Cox10. Together, these results suggest that heme A synthase and/or heme O synthase might play a new, unidentified role in addition to heme A biosynthesis.

Recruitment of the ArgR/Mcm1p repressor is stimulated by the activator Gcn4p: a self-checking activation mechanism

Transcription of the arginine biosynthetic gene ARG1 is repressed by the ArgR/Mcm1p complex in arginine-replete cells and activated by Gcn4p, a transcription factor induced by starvation for any amino acid. We show that all four subunits of the arginine repressor are recruited to ARG1 by Gcn4p in cells replete with arginine but starved for isoleucine/valine. None of these proteins is recruited to the Gcn4p target genes ARG4 and SNZ1, which are not regulated by ArgR/Mcm1p. Mcm1p and Arg80p were found in a soluble complex lacking Arg81p and Arg82p, and both Mcm1p and Arg80p were efficiently recruited to ARG1 in wild-type cells in the presence or absence of exogenous arginine, and also in arg81Delta cells. By contrast, the recruitment of Arg81p and Arg82p was stimulated by exogenous arginine. These findings suggest that Gcn4p constitutively recruits an Mcm1p/Arg80p heterodimer and that efficient assembly of a functional repressor also containing Arg81p and Arg82p occurs only in arginine excess. By recruiting an arginine-regulated repressor, Gcn4p can precisely modulate its activation function at ARG1 according to the availability of arginine.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of MET14, the gene encoding the APS kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The MET14 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding APS kinase (ATP:adenylylsulfate-3'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.25), has been cloned. The nucleotide sequence predicts a protein of 202 amino acids with a molecular mass of 23,060 dalton. Translational fusions of MET14 with the beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ) of Escherichia coli confirmed the results of primer extension and Northern blot analyses indicating that the ca. 0.7 kb mRNA is transcriptionally repressed by the presence of methionine in the growth medium. By primer extension the MET14 transcripts were found to start between positions -25 and -45 upstream of the initiator codon. Located upstream of the MET14 gene is a perfect match (positions -222 to -229) with the previously proposed methionine-specific upstream activating sequence (UASMet). This is the same as the consensus sequence of the Centromere DNA Element I (CDEI) that binds the Centromere Promoter Factor I (CPFI) and of two regulatory elements of the PHO5 gene to which the yeast protein PHO4 binds. The human oncogenic protein c-Myc also has the same recognition sequence. Furthermore, in the 270 bp upstream of the MET14 coding region there are several matches with a methionine-specific upstream negative (URSMet) control element. The significance of these sequences was investigated using different upstream deletion mutations of the MET14 gene which were fused to the lacZ gene of E. coli and chromosomally integrated. We find that the methionine-specific UASMet and one of the URSMet lie in regions necessary for strong activation and weak repression of MET14 transcription, respectively. We propose that both types of control are exerted on MET14.

Ribosome association of GCN2 protein kinase, a translational activator of the GCN4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The GCN4 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes that is regulated at the translational level according to the availability of amino acids. GCN2 is a protein kinase required for increased translation of GCN4 mRNA in amino acid-starved cells. Centrifugation of cell extracts in sucrose gradients indicated that GCN2 comigrates with ribosomal subunits and polysomes. The fraction of GCN2 cosedimenting with polysomes was reduced under conditions in which polysomes were dissociated, suggesting that GCN2 is physically bound to these structures. When the association of 40S and 60S subunits was prevented by omitting Mg2+ from the gradient, almost all of the GCN2 comigrated with 60S ribosomal subunits, and it remained bound to these particles during gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. GCN2 could be dissociated from 60S subunits by 0.5 M KCl, suggesting that it is loosely associated with ribosomes rather than being an integral ribosomal protein. Accumulation of GCN2 on free 43S-48S particles and 60S subunits occurred during polysome runoff in vitro and under conditions of reduced growth rate in vivo. These observations, plus the fact that GCN2 shows preferential association with free ribosomal subunits during exponential growth, suggest that GCN2 interacts with ribosomes during the translation initiation cycle. The extreme carboxyl-terminal segment of GCN2 is essential for its interaction with ribosomes. These sequences are also required for the ability of GCN2 to stimulate GCN4 translation in vivo, leading us to propose that ribosome association by GCN2 is important for its access to substrates in the translational machinery or for detecting uncharged tRNA in amino acid-starved cells.

Ribosome association of GCN2 protein kinase, a translational activator of the GCN4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The GCN4 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes that is regulated at the translational level according to the availability of amino acids. GCN2 is a protein kinase required for increased translation of GCN4 mRNA in amino acid-starved cells. Centrifugation of cell extracts in sucrose gradients indicated that GCN2 comigrates with ribosomal subunits and polysomes. The fraction of GCN2 cosedimenting with polysomes was reduced under conditions in which polysomes were dissociated, suggesting that GCN2 is physically bound to these structures. When the association of 40S and 60S subunits was prevented by omitting Mg2+ from the gradient, almost all of the GCN2 comigrated with 60S ribosomal subunits, and it remained bound to these particles during gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. GCN2 could be dissociated from 60S subunits by 0.5 M KCl, suggesting that it is loosely associated with ribosomes rather than being an integral ribosomal protein. Accumulation of GCN2 on free 43S-48S particles and 60S subunits occurred during polysome runoff in vitro and under conditions of reduced growth rate in vivo. These observations, plus the fact that GCN2 shows preferential association with free ribosomal subunits during exponential growth, suggest that GCN2 interacts with ribosomes during the translation initiation cycle. The extreme carboxyl-terminal segment of GCN2 is essential for its interaction with ribosomes. These sequences are also required for the ability of GCN2 to stimulate GCN4 translation in vivo, leading us to propose that ribosome association by GCN2 is important for its access to substrates in the translational machinery or for detecting uncharged tRNA in amino acid-starved cells.

Genetic selection for mutations that reduce or abolish ribosomal recognition of the HIS4 translational initiator region

A unique genetic selection was devised at the HIS4 locus to address the mechanism of translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to probe sequence requirements at the normal translational initiator region that might participate in ribosomal recognition of the AUG start codon. The first AUG codon at the 5' end of the HIS4 message serves as the start site for translation, and the -3 and +4 nucleotide positions flanking this AUG (AXXAUGG) correspond to a eucaryotic consensus start region. Despite this similarity, direct selection for mutations that reduce or abolish ribosomal recognition of this region does not provide any insight into the functional nature of flanking nucleotides. The only mutations identified that affected recognition of this region were alterations in the AUG start codon. Among 150 spontaneous isolates, 26 were shown to contain mutations in the AUG start codon, including all +1 changes (CUG, GUG, and UUG), all +3 changes (AUA, AUC, and AUU), and one +2 change (ACG). These seven mutations of the AUG start codon, as well as AAG and AGG constructed in vitro, were assayed for their ability to support HIS4 expression. No codon other than AUG is physiologically relevant to translation initiation at HIS4 as determined by growth tests and quantitated in his4-lacZ fusion strains. These data and analysis of other his4 alleles are consistent with a mechanism of initiation at HIS4 as proposed in the scanning model whereby the first AUG codon nearest the 5' end of the message serves as the start site for translation and points to the AUG codon in S. cerevisiae as an important component for ribosomal recognition of the initiator region.

Mutational analysis of the HIS4 translational initiator region in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have mutated various features of the 5' noncoding region of the HIS4 mRNA in light of established Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian consensus translational initiator regions. Our analysis indicates that insertion mutations that introduce G + C-rich sequences in the leader, particularly those that result in stable stem-loop structures in the 5' noncoding region of the HIS4 message, severely affect translation initiation. Mutations that alter the length of the HIS4 leader from 115 to 39 nucleotides had no effect on expression, and sequence context changes both 5' and 3' to the HIS4 AUG start codon resulted in no more than a twofold decrease of expression. Changing the normal context at HIS4 5'-AAUAAUGG-3' to the optimal sequence context proposed for mammalian initiator regions 5'-CACCAUGG-3' did not result in stimulation of HIS4 expression. These studies, in conjunction with comparative and genetic studies in S. cerevisiae, support a general mechanism of initiation of protein synthesis as proposed by the ribosomal scanning model.

Genetic selection for mutations that reduce or abolish ribosomal recognition of the HIS4 translational initiator region

A unique genetic selection was devised at the HIS4 locus to address the mechanism of translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to probe sequence requirements at the normal translational initiator region that might participate in ribosomal recognition of the AUG start codon. The first AUG codon at the 5' end of the HIS4 message serves as the start site for translation, and the -3 and +4 nucleotide positions flanking this AUG (AXXAUGG) correspond to a eucaryotic consensus start region. Despite this similarity, direct selection for mutations that reduce or abolish ribosomal recognition of this region does not provide any insight into the functional nature of flanking nucleotides. The only mutations identified that affected recognition of this region were alterations in the AUG start codon. Among 150 spontaneous isolates, 26 were shown to contain mutations in the AUG start codon, including all +1 changes (CUG, GUG, and UUG), all +3 changes (AUA, AUC, and AUU), and one +2 change (ACG). These seven mutations of the AUG start codon, as well as AAG and AGG constructed in vitro, were assayed for their ability to support HIS4 expression. No codon other than AUG is physiologically relevant to translation initiation at HIS4 as determined by growth tests and quantitated in his4-lacZ fusion strains. These data and analysis of other his4 alleles are consistent with a mechanism of initiation at HIS4 as proposed in the scanning model whereby the first AUG codon nearest the 5' end of the message serves as the start site for translation and points to the AUG codon in S. cerevisiae as an important component for ribosomal recognition of the initiator region.

Mutational analysis of the HIS4 translational initiator region in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have mutated various features of the 5' noncoding region of the HIS4 mRNA in light of established Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian consensus translational initiator regions. Our analysis indicates that insertion mutations that introduce G + C-rich sequences in the leader, particularly those that result in stable stem-loop structures in the 5' noncoding region of the HIS4 message, severely affect translation initiation. Mutations that alter the length of the HIS4 leader from 115 to 39 nucleotides had no effect on expression, and sequence context changes both 5' and 3' to the HIS4 AUG start codon resulted in no more than a twofold decrease of expression. Changing the normal context at HIS4 5'-AAUAAUGG-3' to the optimal sequence context proposed for mammalian initiator regions 5'-CACCAUGG-3' did not result in stimulation of HIS4 expression. These studies, in conjunction with comparative and genetic studies in S. cerevisiae, support a general mechanism of initiation of protein synthesis as proposed by the ribosomal scanning model.

Chitin synthase 2 is essential for septum formation and cell division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Previous work led to the puzzling conclusion that chitin synthase 1, the major chitin synthase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is not required for synthesis of the chitinous primary septum. The mechanism of in vivo synthesis of chitin has now been clarified by cloning the structural gene for the newly found chitin synthase 2, a relatively minor activity in yeast. Disruption of the chitin synthase 2 gene results in the loss of well-defined septa and in growth arrest, establishing that the gene product is essential for both septum formation and cell division.

Cell-specific expression of transfected brain identifier repetitive DNAs

To define the neural-specific expression of rat repetitive identifier (ID) DNA, we co-transfected an intron B subclone of the rat growth hormone (rGH) gene, containing a tandem array of two type 2 repeats and a single ID monomer, and a plasmid conferring neomycin resistance into human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma, HeLa epidermal carcinoma, 293 kidney and 251 MG glioblastoma cells. Transcript analysis from both individual and pools of G418-resistant cells revealed that rGH intron B repeats were expressed only in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells as small, cytoplasmic RNAs of 85, 110, 155 and 180 bases. Primer-extension studies show these repetitive RNAs to contain a common 5' end that maps precisely to the beginning of the ID element and that type 2 transcripts are not stably expressed. However, ID DNA expression from two other transfected plasmids, each containing only the ID core sequence, was not restricted to the SK-N-MC cell line. These data show that the transfected rGH ID sequence is selectively expressed in a neural-specific manner resulting in BC-like RNAs, and furthermore, suggest that flanking DNA may play a role in cell-specific expression of certain repetitive DNA elements.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae positive regulatory gene PET111 encodes a mitochondrial protein that is translated from an mRNA with a long 5' leader

The yeast nuclear gene PET111 is required specifically for translation of the mitochondrion-coded mRNA for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 3-kilobase segment of DNA that carries PET111. The sequence contains a single long open reading frame that predicts a basic protein of 718 amino acids. The PET111 gene product is a mitochondrial protein, since a hybrid protein which includes the amino-terminal 154 amino acids of PET111 fused to beta-galactosidase is specifically associated with mitochondria. PET111 is translated from a 2.9-kilobase mRNA which, interestingly, has an extended 5'-leader sequence containing four short open reading frames upstream of the long open reading frame. These open reading frames exhibit an interesting pattern of overlap with each other and with the PET111 reading frame.

Reduced expression of multiple forms of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory GTP-binding protein in pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia

We examined the expression of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs) in fibroblasts of subjects with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) type Ia by transfer blot hybridization and S1 nuclease analyses. Six subjects with PHP type Ia showed decreased steady-state content of Gs alpha mRNA. S1 nuclease analysis indicates that both long and short forms of Gs alpha mRNA are decreased, with no apparent change in the ratio of long to short forms in PHP compared with normal individuals. It appears likely that in some cases of PHP type Ia the genetic lesion affects the maintenance of mRNA levels for all forms of the Gs alpha subunit.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae positive regulatory gene PET111 encodes a mitochondrial protein that is translated from an mRNA with a long 5' leader

The yeast nuclear gene PET111 is required specifically for translation of the mitochondrion-coded mRNA for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 3-kilobase segment of DNA that carries PET111. The sequence contains a single long open reading frame that predicts a basic protein of 718 amino acids. The PET111 gene product is a mitochondrial protein, since a hybrid protein which includes the amino-terminal 154 amino acids of PET111 fused to beta-galactosidase is specifically associated with mitochondria. PET111 is translated from a 2.9-kilobase mRNA which, interestingly, has an extended 5'-leader sequence containing four short open reading frames upstream of the long open reading frame. These open reading frames exhibit an interesting pattern of overlap with each other and with the PET111 reading frame.

Structure of the yeast HIS5 gene responsive to general control of amino acid biosynthesis

The nucleotide sequence of a 2.1 kb DNA fragment bearing the HIS5 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which encodes histidinol-phosphate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.9), has been determined. An open reading frame of 1,152 bp was found. S1 nuclease mapping indicated that the major transcription starts at position -37 from the ATG codon and the minor (approximately 20%) at -34 in both repressive and derepressive conditions. Northern analysis indicated that transcription of the HIS5 gene is under the general control of amino acid biosynthesis. The 5' noncoding region of the gene, thus far examined up to position -616, contains three copies of sequences homologous to the short repeats of the consensus sequence, 5'-AATGTGACTC-3', suggested for general amino acid control in the HIS1, HIS3, HIS4, and TRP5 at positions -336, -275 and -205. The consensus sequence closest to the open reading frame was shown to be necessary but not sufficient for general amino acid control, by examination of beta-galactosidase appearance in S. cerevisiae cells carrying various mutant HIS5 promoter regions fused to the lac'Z gene and inserted at the leu2 locus of chromosome III.

Multiple GCD genes required for repression of GCN4, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

GCN4 encodes a positive regulator of multiple unlinked genes encoding amino acid biosynthetic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of GCN4 is coupled to amino acid availability by a control mechanism involving GCD1 as a negative effector and GCN1, GCN2, and GCN3 as positive effectors of GCN4 expression. We used reversion of a gcn2 gcn3 double mutation to isolate new alleles of GCD1 and mutations in four additional GCD genes which we designate GCD10, GCD11, GCD12, and GCD13. All of the mutations lead to constitutive derepression of HIS4 transcription in the absence of the GCN2+ and GCN3+ alleles. By contrast, the gcd mutations require the wild-type GCN4 allele for their derepressing effect, suggesting that each acts by influencing the level of GCN4 activity in the cell. Consistent with this interpretation, mutations in each GCD gene lead to constitutive derepression of a GCN4::lacZ gene fusion. Thus, at least five gene products are required to maintain the normal repressed level of GCN4 expression in nonstarvation conditions. Interestingly, the gcd mutations are pleiotropic and also affect growth rate in nonstarvation conditions. In addition, certain alleles lead to a loss of M double-stranded RNA required for the killer phenotype. This pleiotropy suggests that the GCD gene products contribute to an essential cellular function, in addition to, or in conjunction with, their role in GCN4 regulation.

New positive and negative regulators for general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The biosynthesis of most amino acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is coregulated. Starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes in many unrelated pathways. This phenomenon, known as general control, is mediated by both positive (GCN) and negative (GCD) regulatory genes. In this paper we describe the identification and characterization of several new regulatory genes for this system, GCN6, GCN7, GCN8, GCN9, and GCD5. A mutation in the negative regulator GCD5 was isolated on the basis of its suppression of a gcn2 mutation. The effect of gcd5 is a posttranscriptional increase in histidine biosynthetic enzyme activity. Suppressors of gcd5 which are deficient in derepression were in turn isolated. Eight such mutations, defining four new positive regulatory genes (GCN6 through GCN9), were obtained. These mutations are recessive, confer sensitivity to multiple amino acid analogs, and result in decreased mRNA levels for genes under general control. The GCN6 and GCN7 gene products were shown to be positive regulators for transcription of the GCN4 gene, the most direct-acting positive regulator thus far identified. The interaction of GCN6 and GCN7 with GCN4 is fundamentally different from that of previously isolated GCN genes. It should also be noted that these gcn selections gave a completely different nonoverlapping set of mutations from earlier selections which relied on analog sensitivity. Thus, we may have identified a new class of GCN genes which are functionally distinct from GCN1 through GCN5.

Negative regulatory gene for general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, many amino acid biosynthetic pathways are coregulated by a complex general control system: starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes in multiple pathways. Derepression of these genes is mediated by positive (GCN) and negative (GCD) regulatory genes. In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of a previously unreported negative regulatory gene, GCD3. A gcd3 mutation is recessive to wild type, confers resistance to multiple amino acid analogs, and results in overproduction and partially constitutive elevation of mRNA levels for amino acid biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, a gcd3 mutation can overcome the derepression-deficient phenotype of mutations in the positive regulatory GCN1, GCN2, and GCN3 genes. However, the gcd3 mutation cannot overcome the derepression-deficient phenotype of a gcn4 mutation, suggesting that GCD3 acts as a negative regulator of the important GCN4 gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed this conclusion, in that the steady-state levels of GCN4 mRNA are greatly increased in a gcd3 mutant. Thus, the negative regulatory gene GCD3 plays a central role in derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes.

Human cDNA clones for four species of G alpha s signal transduction protein

lambda gt11 cDNA libraries derived from human brain were screened with oligonucleotide probes for recombinants that code for alpha subunits of G signal transduction proteins. Eleven alpha s clones were detected with both probes and characterized. Four types of alpha s cDNA were cloned that differ in nucleotide sequence in the region that corresponds to amino acid residues 71-88. The clones differ in the codon for alpha s amino acid residue 71 (glutamic acid or aspartic acid), the presence or absence of codons for the next 15 amino acid residues, and the presence or absence of an adjacent serine residue. S1 nuclease protection experiments revealed at least two forms of alpha s mRNA. A mechanism for generating four species of alpha s mRNA by alternative splicing of precursor RNA is proposed.

Multiple GCD genes required for repression of GCN4, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

GCN4 encodes a positive regulator of multiple unlinked genes encoding amino acid biosynthetic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of GCN4 is coupled to amino acid availability by a control mechanism involving GCD1 as a negative effector and GCN1, GCN2, and GCN3 as positive effectors of GCN4 expression. We used reversion of a gcn2 gcn3 double mutation to isolate new alleles of GCD1 and mutations in four additional GCD genes which we designate GCD10, GCD11, GCD12, and GCD13. All of the mutations lead to constitutive derepression of HIS4 transcription in the absence of the GCN2+ and GCN3+ alleles. By contrast, the gcd mutations require the wild-type GCN4 allele for their derepressing effect, suggesting that each acts by influencing the level of GCN4 activity in the cell. Consistent with this interpretation, mutations in each GCD gene lead to constitutive derepression of a GCN4::lacZ gene fusion. Thus, at least five gene products are required to maintain the normal repressed level of GCN4 expression in nonstarvation conditions. Interestingly, the gcd mutations are pleiotropic and also affect growth rate in nonstarvation conditions. In addition, certain alleles lead to a loss of M double-stranded RNA required for the killer phenotype. This pleiotropy suggests that the GCD gene products contribute to an essential cellular function, in addition to, or in conjunction with, their role in GCN4 regulation.

Negative regulatory gene for general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, many amino acid biosynthetic pathways are coregulated by a complex general control system: starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes in multiple pathways. Derepression of these genes is mediated by positive (GCN) and negative (GCD) regulatory genes. In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of a previously unreported negative regulatory gene, GCD3. A gcd3 mutation is recessive to wild type, confers resistance to multiple amino acid analogs, and results in overproduction and partially constitutive elevation of mRNA levels for amino acid biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, a gcd3 mutation can overcome the derepression-deficient phenotype of mutations in the positive regulatory GCN1, GCN2, and GCN3 genes. However, the gcd3 mutation cannot overcome the derepression-deficient phenotype of a gcn4 mutation, suggesting that GCD3 acts as a negative regulator of the important GCN4 gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed this conclusion, in that the steady-state levels of GCN4 mRNA are greatly increased in a gcd3 mutant. Thus, the negative regulatory gene GCD3 plays a central role in derepression of amino acid biosynthetic genes.

New positive and negative regulators for general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The biosynthesis of most amino acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is coregulated. Starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes in many unrelated pathways. This phenomenon, known as general control, is mediated by both positive (GCN) and negative (GCD) regulatory genes. In this paper we describe the identification and characterization of several new regulatory genes for this system, GCN6, GCN7, GCN8, GCN9, and GCD5. A mutation in the negative regulator GCD5 was isolated on the basis of its suppression of a gcn2 mutation. The effect of gcd5 is a posttranscriptional increase in histidine biosynthetic enzyme activity. Suppressors of gcd5 which are deficient in derepression were in turn isolated. Eight such mutations, defining four new positive regulatory genes (GCN6 through GCN9), were obtained. These mutations are recessive, confer sensitivity to multiple amino acid analogs, and result in decreased mRNA levels for genes under general control. The GCN6 and GCN7 gene products were shown to be positive regulators for transcription of the GCN4 gene, the most direct-acting positive regulator thus far identified. The interaction of GCN6 and GCN7 with GCN4 is fundamentally different from that of previously isolated GCN genes. It should also be noted that these gcn selections gave a completely different nonoverlapping set of mutations from earlier selections which relied on analog sensitivity. Thus, we may have identified a new class of GCN genes which are functionally distinct from GCN1 through GCN5.

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.

Characterization of the developmentally regulated Bacillus subtilis glucose dehydrogenase gene

The DNA sequence of the structural gene for glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.47) of Bacillus subtilis was determined and comprises 780 base pairs. The subunit molecular weight of glucose dehydrogenase as deduced from the nucleotide sequence is 28,196, which agrees well with the subunit molecular weight of 31,500 as determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The sequence of the 49 amino acids at the NH2 terminus of glucose dehydrogenase purified from sporulating B. subtilis cells matched the amino acid sequence derived from the DNA sequence. Glucose dehydrogenase was purified from an Escherichia coli strain harboring pEF1, a plasmid that contains the B. subtilis gene encoding glucose dehydrogenase. This enzyme has the identical amino acid sequence at the NH2 terminus as the B. subtilis enzyme. A putative ribosome-binding site, 5'-AGGAGG-3', which is complementary to the 3' end of the 16S rRNA of B. subtilis, was found 6 base pairs preceding the translational start codon of the structural gene of glucose dehydrogenase. No known promoterlike DNA sequences that are recognized by B. subtilis RNA polymerases were present immediately preceding the translational start site of the glucose dehydrogenase structural gene. The glucose dehydrogenase gene was found to be under sporulation control at the trancriptional level. A transcript of 1.6 kilobases hybridized to a DNA fragment within the structural gene of glucose dehydrogenase. This transcript was synthesized 3 h after the cessation of vegetative growth concomitant to the appearance of glucose dehydrogenase.

A new negative control gene for amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Enzyme levels in multiple amino acid biosynthetic pathways in yeast are coregulated. This control is effected largely at the transcriptional level by a number of regulatory genes. We report the isolation and characterization of a new negative regulatory gene, GCD4, for this general control system. GCD4 mutations are recessive and define a single Medelian gene on chromosome III. A gcd4 mutation results in resistance to different amino acid analogs and elevated, but fully inducible, mRNA levels of genes under general control. Epistasis analysis indicates that GCD4 acts more directly than the positive regulators GCN1, GCN2, GCN3 and GCN5, but less directly than GCN4, on the transcription of the amino acid biosynthetic genes. These data imply that GCD4 is a negative regulator of the positive effector, GCN4. Although GCD4 occupies the same position relative to the GCN genes as other GCD genes, it produces a unique phenotype. These results illustrate the diversity of function of negative regulators in general control.

Characterization of an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene related to RNA processing: cloning of RNA1 and generation of a new allele with a novel phenotype

The RNA1 gene product is believed to be involved in RNA metabolism due to the phenotype of a single conditionally lethal, temperature-sensitive allele, rna1-1. We cloned the RNA1 gene and determined that it produces a 1,400-nucleotide polyadenylated transcript. On a multicopy plasmid, the mutant rna1-1 allele partially complements the rna1-1 temperature-sensitive growth defect. This suggests that the temperature-sensitive nature of the rna1-1 allele results from the synthesis of a product with lowered activity or stability at elevated temperatures or from a decrease in synthesis of the rna1-1 product at the restrictive temperature. A chromosomal disruption of RNA1 behaves as a recessive lethal mutation. Haploids bearing the disruption were isolated by sporulating a diploid heterozygous for the disrupted allele and the rna1-1 allele and possessing an episomal copy of the RNA1 gene. Analysis of the rescued haploids bearing the chromosomal disruption indicated that the recessive lethal phenotype of the RNA1 disruption is not merely due to a block in spore germination. Unexpectedly, diploids heterozygous for the disruption and the rna1-1 alleles become aneuploid for chromosome XIII at a frequency of 2 to 5%. It appears that the disrupted RNA1 allele on a multicopy plasmid also promotes aneuploidy for chromosome XIII. Promotion of aneuploidy seems to be a phenotype of this particular allele of RNA1.

Specific Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes are expressed in response to DNA-damaging agents

When exposed to DNA-damaging agents, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces the expression of at least six specific genes. We have previously identified one damage inducible (DIN) gene as a gene fusion (din-lacZ fusion) whose expression increases in response to DNA-damaging treatments. We describe here the identification of five additional DIN genes as din-lacZ fusions and the responses of all six DIN genes to DNA-damaging agents. Northern blot analyses of the transcripts of two of the DIN genes show that their levels increase after exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Five of the din-lacZ fusions are induced in S. cerevisiae cells exposed to UV light, gamma rays, methotrexate, or alkylating agents. One of the din-lacZ fusions is induced by either UV or methotrexate but not by the other agents. This finding suggests that there are sets of DIN genes that are regulated differently.

Characterization of an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene related to RNA processing: cloning of RNA1 and generation of a new allele with a novel phenotype

The RNA1 gene product is believed to be involved in RNA metabolism due to the phenotype of a single conditionally lethal, temperature-sensitive allele, rna1-1. We cloned the RNA1 gene and determined that it produces a 1,400-nucleotide polyadenylated transcript. On a multicopy plasmid, the mutant rna1-1 allele partially complements the rna1-1 temperature-sensitive growth defect. This suggests that the temperature-sensitive nature of the rna1-1 allele results from the synthesis of a product with lowered activity or stability at elevated temperatures or from a decrease in synthesis of the rna1-1 product at the restrictive temperature. A chromosomal disruption of RNA1 behaves as a recessive lethal mutation. Haploids bearing the disruption were isolated by sporulating a diploid heterozygous for the disrupted allele and the rna1-1 allele and possessing an episomal copy of the RNA1 gene. Analysis of the rescued haploids bearing the chromosomal disruption indicated that the recessive lethal phenotype of the RNA1 disruption is not merely due to a block in spore germination. Unexpectedly, diploids heterozygous for the disruption and the rna1-1 alleles become aneuploid for chromosome XIII at a frequency of 2 to 5%. It appears that the disrupted RNA1 allele on a multicopy plasmid also promotes aneuploidy for chromosome XIII. Promotion of aneuploidy seems to be a phenotype of this particular allele of RNA1.

Primary structure of the nuclear PUT2 gene involved in the mitochondrial pathway for proline utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The PUT2 gene, believed to encode delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase, has been completely sequenced. The DNA contains an open reading frame of 1,725 base pairs encoding a protein of 575 amino acids. Transcript mapping with both S1 nuclease and primer extension methods revealed numerous initiation sites of RNA synthesis 50 to 80 base pairs downstream from several TATA boxes. The deduced amino acid sequence of delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase contains a highly basic amino terminus that may serve as the signal sequence that targets this protein to the mitochondrion.

Invertase beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins fail to be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast SUC2 gene codes for the secreted enzyme invertase. A series of 16 different-sized gene fusions have been constructed between this yeast gene and the Escherichia coli lacZ gene, which codes for the cytoplasmic enzyme beta-galactosidase. Various amounts of SUC2 NH2-terminal coding sequence have been fused in frame to a constant COOH-terminal coding segment of the lacZ gene, resulting in the synthesis of hybrid invertase-beta-galactosidase proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hybrid proteins exhibit beta-galactosidase activity, and they are recognized specifically by antisera directed against either invertase or beta-galactosidase. Expression of beta-galactosidase activity is regulated in a manner similar to that observed for invertase activity expressed from a wild-type SUC2 gene: repressed in high-glucose medium and derepressed in low-glucose medium. Unlike wild-type invertase, however, the invertase-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins are not secreted. Rather, they appear to remain trapped at a very early stage of secretory protein transit: insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The hybrid proteins appear only to have undergone core glycosylation, an ER process, and do not receive the additional glycosyl modifications that take place in the Golgi complex. Even those hybrid proteins containing only a short segment of invertase sequences at the NH2 terminus are glycosylated, suggesting that no extensive folding of the invertase polypeptide is required before initiation of transmembrane transfer. beta-Galactosidase activity expressed by the SUC2-lacZ gene fusions cofractionates on Percoll density gradients with ER marker enzymes and not with other organelles. In addition, the hybrid proteins are not accessible to cell-surface labeling by 125I. Accumulation of the invertase-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins within the ER does not appear to confer a growth-defective phenotype to yeast cells. In this location, however, the hybrid proteins and the beta-galactosidase activity they exhibit could provide a useful biochemical tag for yeast ER membranes.

Isolation and characterization of the RNA2, RNA3, and RNA11 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Temperature-sensitive mutations in the genes RNA2 through RNA11 cause accumulation of intervening sequence containing precursor mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three different plasmids have been isolated which complement both the temperature-sensitive lethality and precursor mRNA accumulation when introduced into rna2, rna3, and rna11 mutant strains. The yeast sequences on these plasmids have been shown by Southern transfer hybridization and genetic mapping to be derived from the RNA2, RNA3, and RNA11 genomic loci. Part of the RNA2 gene is homologous to more than one region of the yeast genome, whereas the RNA3 and RNA11 genes are single copy. RNAs homologous to these loci have been identified by RNA transfer hybridization, and the specific RNAs which are associated with the Rna+ phenotype have been mapped. This was done by a combination of transcript mapping, subcloning, and in vitro mutagenesis. The transcripts are found to be enriched in polyadenylated RNA and are of very low abundance (0.01-0.001% polyadenylated RNA).

Positive regulatory interactions of the HIS4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The role of cis- and trans-acting elements in the expression of HIS4 has been examined by using HIS4-lacZ fusions in which lacZ expression is dependent upon the HIS4 5' noncoding region. The cis-acting sequences involved in regulation were defined by studying the effects of the wild-type and various deletions and their revertants on regulation via the general control of amino acid biosynthesis. The role of trans-acting genes was analyzed by studying the regulation of the HIS4-lacZ fusions in strains carrying mutations in the GCN (AAS) or GCD (TRA) genes and in strains carrying the GCN genes on high-copy-number plasmids. These studies have led to the following conclusions. (i) HIS4 is positively regulated by the general control. (ii) At least one copy of the 5'TGACTC3' repeat at -136 is required in cis for this regulation. (iii) Both the GCN4 gene and at least one copy of the repeated sequence are required for expression at the repressed level. (iv) The open reading frames in the 5' noncoding region are not required in either cis or trans for the regulation of HIS4.

Effects of Ty insertions on HIS4 transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Insertion of two different Ty elements into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HIS4 regulatory region eliminates transcription of HIS4. Transcription can be restored by genetic rearrangements involving the Ty element inserted at HIS4. Several deletions, an inversion, a translocation, and a gene conversion are capable of restoring HIS4 transcription. Some of the rearrangements result in new transcriptional initiation sites. One type of revertant of his4-912 results from recombination between the delta elements flanking the Ty element, leaving a solo delta in place of the complete Ty. Strains carrying a Ty912 delta at HIS4 are His- at 23 degrees C. Unlinked suppressors (SPT) lead to suppression of this His- phenotype and increase levels of the normal HIS4 transcript. These suppressor genes affect not only the amount of transcription from the normal HIS4 initiation site, but also that from new initiation sites within Ty sequences adjacent to HIS4.

A synthetic HIS4 regulatory element confers general amino acid control on the cytochrome c gene (CYC1) of yeast

Hybrid promoters constructed from upstream sequences of the yeast HIS4 promoter and the downstream element of the yeast CYC1 promoter place iso-1-cytochrome c (CYC1) expression under the general amino acid control, typical of HIS4. HIS4 fragments that confer regulation contain at least one copy of the sequence T-G-A-C-T-C that is repeated at HIS4 and other genes subject to the general control. A 14-base-pair synthetic oligonucleotide containing a single copy of the HIS4 repeat places CYC1 under the general control. Two copies of this oligonucleotide produce a derepressed level of expression nearly equivalent to that conferred by the largest HIS4 5' noncoding fragments we examined and direct regulated expression of a set of transcripts with 5' ends typical of the CYC1 promoter. Comparison of the expression levels conferred by the short synthetic repeat and larger HIS4 5' fragments reveals additional promoter elements required for maintaining efficient gene expression under repressing growth conditions.

Specific Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes are expressed in response to DNA-damaging agents

When exposed to DNA-damaging agents, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces the expression of at least six specific genes. We have previously identified one damage inducible (DIN) gene as a gene fusion (din-lacZ fusion) whose expression increases in response to DNA-damaging treatments. We describe here the identification of five additional DIN genes as din-lacZ fusions and the responses of all six DIN genes to DNA-damaging agents. Northern blot analyses of the transcripts of two of the DIN genes show that their levels increase after exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Five of the din-lacZ fusions are induced in S. cerevisiae cells exposed to UV light, gamma rays, methotrexate, or alkylating agents. One of the din-lacZ fusions is induced by either UV or methotrexate but not by the other agents. This finding suggests that there are sets of DIN genes that are regulated differently.

Primary structure of the nuclear PUT2 gene involved in the mitochondrial pathway for proline utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The PUT2 gene, believed to encode delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase, has been completely sequenced. The DNA contains an open reading frame of 1,725 base pairs encoding a protein of 575 amino acids. Transcript mapping with both S1 nuclease and primer extension methods revealed numerous initiation sites of RNA synthesis 50 to 80 base pairs downstream from several TATA boxes. The deduced amino acid sequence of delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase contains a highly basic amino terminus that may serve as the signal sequence that targets this protein to the mitochondrion.

Isolation and characterization of the RNA2, RNA3, and RNA11 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Temperature-sensitive mutations in the genes RNA2 through RNA11 cause accumulation of intervening sequence containing precursor mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three different plasmids have been isolated which complement both the temperature-sensitive lethality and precursor mRNA accumulation when introduced into rna2, rna3, and rna11 mutant strains. The yeast sequences on these plasmids have been shown by Southern transfer hybridization and genetic mapping to be derived from the RNA2, RNA3, and RNA11 genomic loci. Part of the RNA2 gene is homologous to more than one region of the yeast genome, whereas the RNA3 and RNA11 genes are single copy. RNAs homologous to these loci have been identified by RNA transfer hybridization, and the specific RNAs which are associated with the Rna+ phenotype have been mapped. This was done by a combination of transcript mapping, subcloning, and in vitro mutagenesis. The transcripts are found to be enriched in polyadenylated RNA and are of very low abundance (0.01-0.001% polyadenylated RNA).

Invertase beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins fail to be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast SUC2 gene codes for the secreted enzyme invertase. A series of 16 different-sized gene fusions have been constructed between this yeast gene and the Escherichia coli lacZ gene, which codes for the cytoplasmic enzyme beta-galactosidase. Various amounts of SUC2 NH2-terminal coding sequence have been fused in frame to a constant COOH-terminal coding segment of the lacZ gene, resulting in the synthesis of hybrid invertase-beta-galactosidase proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hybrid proteins exhibit beta-galactosidase activity, and they are recognized specifically by antisera directed against either invertase or beta-galactosidase. Expression of beta-galactosidase activity is regulated in a manner similar to that observed for invertase activity expressed from a wild-type SUC2 gene: repressed in high-glucose medium and derepressed in low-glucose medium. Unlike wild-type invertase, however, the invertase-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins are not secreted. Rather, they appear to remain trapped at a very early stage of secretory protein transit: insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The hybrid proteins appear only to have undergone core glycosylation, an ER process, and do not receive the additional glycosyl modifications that take place in the Golgi complex. Even those hybrid proteins containing only a short segment of invertase sequences at the NH2 terminus are glycosylated, suggesting that no extensive folding of the invertase polypeptide is required before initiation of transmembrane transfer. beta-Galactosidase activity expressed by the SUC2-lacZ gene fusions cofractionates on Percoll density gradients with ER marker enzymes and not with other organelles. In addition, the hybrid proteins are not accessible to cell-surface labeling by 125I. Accumulation of the invertase-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins within the ER does not appear to confer a growth-defective phenotype to yeast cells. In this location, however, the hybrid proteins and the beta-galactosidase activity they exhibit could provide a useful biochemical tag for yeast ER membranes.

5' untranslated sequences are required for the translational control of a yeast regulatory gene

In yeast, many genes encoding amino acid biosynthetic enzymes are subject to a common regulatory system called the general control of amino acid biosynthesis. The product of the regulatory gene GCN4 is required for an increase in transcription of general control-regulated genes when yeast are grown under amino acid-starvation conditions. In this report, we show that the expression of the GCN4 gene is regulated at the translational level: the efficiency of translation of the GCN4 mRNA is dramatically increased during growth under amino acid-starvation conditions. The complete nucleotide sequence of the GCN4 gene, presented here, reveals the existence of an unusually long 5' untranslated region in the corresponding mRNA. In vivo analysis of the effects of a deletion in this 5' leader has enabled us to define a region required for the translational regulation of the GCN4 mRNA.

Positive regulatory interactions of the HIS4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The role of cis- and trans-acting elements in the expression of HIS4 has been examined by using HIS4-lacZ fusions in which lacZ expression is dependent upon the HIS4 5' noncoding region. The cis-acting sequences involved in regulation were defined by studying the effects of the wild-type and various deletions and their revertants on regulation via the general control of amino acid biosynthesis. The role of trans-acting genes was analyzed by studying the regulation of the HIS4-lacZ fusions in strains carrying mutations in the GCN (AAS) or GCD (TRA) genes and in strains carrying the GCN genes on high-copy-number plasmids. These studies have led to the following conclusions. (i) HIS4 is positively regulated by the general control. (ii) At least one copy of the 5'TGACTC3' repeat at -136 is required in cis for this regulation. (iii) Both the GCN4 gene and at least one copy of the repeated sequence are required for expression at the repressed level. (iv) The open reading frames in the 5' noncoding region are not required in either cis or trans for the regulation of HIS4.

Effects of Ty insertions on HIS4 transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Insertion of two different Ty elements into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HIS4 regulatory region eliminates transcription of HIS4. Transcription can be restored by genetic rearrangements involving the Ty element inserted at HIS4. Several deletions, an inversion, a translocation, and a gene conversion are capable of restoring HIS4 transcription. Some of the rearrangements result in new transcriptional initiation sites. One type of revertant of his4-912 results from recombination between the delta elements flanking the Ty element, leaving a solo delta in place of the complete Ty. Strains carrying a Ty912 delta at HIS4 are His- at 23 degrees C. Unlinked suppressors (SPT) lead to suppression of this His- phenotype and increase levels of the normal HIS4 transcript. These suppressor genes affect not only the amount of transcription from the normal HIS4 initiation site, but also that from new initiation sites within Ty sequences adjacent to HIS4.

Temporal analysis of general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: role of positive regulatory genes in initiation and maintenance of mRNA derepression

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of enzyme activities in multiple amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Derepression is a consequence of increased transcription of the genes encoding these enzymes. Analysis of the kinetics of mRNA elevation established that derepression occurs within 5 min of a shift of the culture from rich medium to starvation medium. Any starvation condition was sufficient to trigger an initial high mRNA elevation; however, it was the severity of starvation which determined the steady-state mRNA levels that were subsequently established. The products of the positive regulatory genes AAS101, AAS103, and AAS2 were shown to be required in the initiation phase of this response, whereas the AAS102 gene product was required to maintain the new elevated steady-state mRNA levels. The AAS101 and AAS102 genes were cloned. Consistent with their respective roles in initiation and maintenance of derepression. AAS101 mRNA was found to be expressed at high levels in both rich and starvation media, whereas AAS102 mRNA was derepressed only under starvation conditions. The derepression of AAS102 mRNA is dependent on the AAS101 gene product.

Strong and regulated expression of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase in insect cells with a baculovirus vector

The N-terminal region of the gene encoding polyhedrin, the major occlusion protein of the insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), has been fused to DNA encoding Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The fused gene was inserted into the AcNPV DNA genome by cotransfection of insect cells with recombinant plasmid DNA and wild-type AcNPV genomic DNA. Recombinant viruses were selected as blue plaques in the presence of a beta-galactosidase indicator, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Studies of one such virus, L1GP-gal3, indicated that the synthesis of beta-galactosidase is temporally controlled beginning late (20 h) in infection after the release of infectious virus particles from the cell. By 48 h postinfection, a remarkably high level of expression is achieved. On the basis of these results, AcNPV should be a useful vector for the stable propagation and expression of passenger genes in a lepidopteran cell background. A generalized transplacement vector that facilitates the construction and selection of recombinant viruses carrying passenger genes under their own promoter control has also been developed.

Strong and regulated expression of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase in insect cells with a baculovirus vector

The N-terminal region of the gene encoding polyhedrin, the major occlusion protein of the insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), has been fused to DNA encoding Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The fused gene was inserted into the AcNPV DNA genome by cotransfection of insect cells with recombinant plasmid DNA and wild-type AcNPV genomic DNA. Recombinant viruses were selected as blue plaques in the presence of a beta-galactosidase indicator, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Studies of one such virus, L1GP-gal3, indicated that the synthesis of beta-galactosidase is temporally controlled beginning late (20 h) in infection after the release of infectious virus particles from the cell. By 48 h postinfection, a remarkably high level of expression is achieved. On the basis of these results, AcNPV should be a useful vector for the stable propagation and expression of passenger genes in a lepidopteran cell background. A generalized transplacement vector that facilitates the construction and selection of recombinant viruses carrying passenger genes under their own promoter control has also been developed.

Temporal analysis of general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: role of positive regulatory genes in initiation and maintenance of mRNA derepression

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, starvation for a single amino acid results in the derepression of enzyme activities in multiple amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Derepression is a consequence of increased transcription of the genes encoding these enzymes. Analysis of the kinetics of mRNA elevation established that derepression occurs within 5 min of a shift of the culture from rich medium to starvation medium. Any starvation condition was sufficient to trigger an initial high mRNA elevation; however, it was the severity of starvation which determined the steady-state mRNA levels that were subsequently established. The products of the positive regulatory genes AAS101, AAS103, and AAS2 were shown to be required in the initiation phase of this response, whereas the AAS102 gene product was required to maintain the new elevated steady-state mRNA levels. The AAS101 and AAS102 genes were cloned. Consistent with their respective roles in initiation and maintenance of derepression. AAS101 mRNA was found to be expressed at high levels in both rich and starvation media, whereas AAS102 mRNA was derepressed only under starvation conditions. The derepression of AAS102 mRNA is dependent on the AAS101 gene product.

An MF alpha 1-SUC2 (alpha-factor-invertase) gene fusion for study of protein localization and gene expression in yeast

The peptide mating pheromone alpha-factor and the hydrolytic enzyme invertase (beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.26) are processed from larger precursor proteins during their secretion from yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). An in-frame fusion of the structural genes for these two proteins was constructed by connecting the 5'-flanking region and prepro-leader portion of the coding sequence of the alpha-factor gene (MF alpha 1) to a large fragment of the invertase gene (SUC2) lacking its 5'-flanking region and the coding information for the first four amino acids of its signal sequence. Sites that have been implicated in normal proteolytic processing of the alpha-factor precursor have been retained in this construction. The chimeric gene directs synthesis of a high level of active invertase that is secreted efficiently into the periplasmic space, permitting cell growth on sucrose-containing media. This extracellular invertase appears to contain no prepro-alpha-factor sequences. The initial intracellular product is, however, a hybrid protein that can be detected either by treatment of the cells with the drug tunicamycin or by blockage of secretion in a temperature-conditional secretion-defective mutant (sec18). Therefore, prior to its efficient proteolytic removal, the alpha-factor portion of the hybrid protein apparently provides the necessary information for efficient export of the substantially larger protein invertase. Similar to MF alpha 1, the MF alpha 1-SUC2 fusion is expressed in alpha haploids at levels 65-75 times higher than in a haploids or in a/alpha diploids; also, high-level expression is eliminated in mat alpha 1 mutants but not in mat alpha 2 mutants. Unlike expression of SUC2, expression of the fusion is not affected by glucose concentration. Hence, the 5'-flanking region present in the fusion (about 950 base pairs) is sufficient to confer alpha cell-specific expression to the hybrid gene.

Fusion of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae leu2 gene to an Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene

The promoter and translation initiation region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae leu2 gene was fused to the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene. This fusion located the control region of the leu gene and orientated its direction of expression. When the fusion was placed into yeast cells, beta-galactosidase was expressed under the same regulatory pattern as the original leu2 gene product: its synthesis was repressed in the presence of leucine and threonine. Sensitive chromogenic substrates for beta-galactosidase were used to detect expression in isolated colonies growing on agar medium. Mutant yeast cells with increased beta-galactosidase activity were identified by the color of the colonies they formed. One class of mutants obtained appeared to affect ars1 plasmid maintenance, and another class appeared to affect beta-galactoside uptake.

Identification of AAS genes and their regulatory role in general control of amino acid biosynthesis in yeast

In yeast, most amino acid biosynthetic pathways are coregulated: starvation for a single amino acid results in derepression of enzyme activities for many different biosynthetic pathways. This phenomenon is referred to as "general control of amino acid biosynthesis." In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of 43 amino acid analog-sensitive (aas-) mutants that are perturbed in this general regulatory system. These 43 mutations define four unlinked complementation groups, AAS101, AAS102, AAS103, and AAS104, two of which identify previously unreported genes involved in general control. These aas mutants are unable to derepress a number of amino acid biosynthetic genes, resulting in increased sensitivity to amino acid analogs, reduced growth rates, and reduced enzyme activity levels under amino acid starvation conditions. Thus, the AAS+ gene products function as positive regulatory elements for this system. We show that the AAS genes mediate these effects by regulating the mRNA levels of genes under their control.