The Constitutive, Glucose-Repression-Insensitive Mutation of the Yeast MAL4 Locus Is an Alteration of the MAL43 Gene

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31
Author(s):  
Maureen J Charron ◽  
Corinne A Michels
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Repression ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Maltose Permease ◽  
Genes Expression ◽  
Constitutive Production ◽  
Saccharomyces Yeasts

ABSTRACT Mutations resulting in constitutive production of maltase have been identified at each of the five MAL loci of Saccharomyces yeasts. Here we examine a dominant constitutive, glucose-repression-insensitive allele of the MAL4 locus (MAL4-C). Our results demonstrate that MAL4-C is an alteration in the MAL43 gene, which encodes the positive regulator of the MAL structural genes, and that its product is trans-acting. The MAL43 gene from the MAL4-C strain was cloned and integrated into a series of nonfermenting strains lacking a functional regulatory gene but carrying copies of the maltose permease and maltase structural genes. Expression of the maltase structural gene was both constitutive and insensitive to glucose repression in these transformants. The MAL4-C allele also results in constitutive expression of the unlinked MAL12 gene (encoding maltase) in this strain. In addition, the cloned MAL43 gene was shown to be dominant to the wild-type MAL63 gene. We also show that most of the glucose repression insensitivity of strains carrying the MAL4-C allele results from alteration of MAL43.

Molecular cloning and analysis of the scon-2 negative regulatory gene of Neurospora crassa

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 5207-5214
Author(s):  
J V Paietta
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Coordinate Control ◽  
Mrna Content ◽  
Sib Selection

The sulfur regulatory system of Neurospora crassa is composed of a group of highly regulated structural genes (e.g., the gene encoding arylsulfatase) that are under coordinate control of scon+ (sulfur controller) negative and cys-3+ positive regulatory genes. In scon-1 (previously designated sconC) and scon-2 mutants, there is constitutive expression of sulfur structural genes regardless of the sulfur level available to the cells. The scon-2+ gene was cloned by sib selection screening of a cosmid-based gene library. The screening was based on the use of chromate, a toxic sulfate analog, which is transported into scon-2 cells grown on high sulfur but is not transported into cells that have regained normal sulfur regulation. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to confirm that the cloned segment mapped to the proper chromosomal location. In wild-type cells, Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that a 2.6-kilobase scon-2+ transcript was present at a substantial level only under sulfur-derepressing conditions. Kinetic analysis showed that scon-2+ mRNA content increased as the cells became sulfur starved. Further, scon-2+ RNA was detectable in a nuclear transcription assay only under derepressing conditions. In scon-1, the levels of scon-2+ mRNA were found to be constitutive. In the cys-3 regulatory mutant, there was a reduced level of scon-2+ transcript. cys-3+ and ars-1+ mRNAs were present under both derepressing and repressing conditions in the scon-2 mutant. Repeat-induced point mutation-generated scon-2 mutants were identical in phenotype to the known mutant.

Identification of a second trans-acting gene controlling maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 2757-2765
Author(s):  
R A Dubin ◽  
E L Perkins ◽  
R B Needleman ◽  
C A Michels
Keyword(s):  
Structural Gene ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Gene Products ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Maltose Permease ◽  
Maltose Fermentation ◽  
New Gene

Maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces spp. requires the presence of a dominant MAL locus. The MAL6 locus has been cloned and shown to encode the structural genes for maltose permease (MAL61), maltase (MAL62), and a positively acting regulatory gene (MAL63). Induction of the MAL61 and MAL62 gene products requires the presence of maltose and the MAL63 gene. Mutations within the MAL63 gene produce nonfermenting strains unable to induce the two structural gene products. Reversion of these mal63 nonfermenters to maltose fermenters nearly always leads to the constitutive expression of maltase and maltose permease, and constitutivity is always linked to MAL6. We demonstrated that for one such revertant, strain C2, constitutivity did not require the MAL63 gene, since deletion disruption of this gene did not affect the constitutive expression of the structural genes. In addition, constitutivity was trans acting. Deletion disruption of the MAL6-linked structural genes for maltase and maltose permease in this strain did not affect the constitutive expression of a second, unlinked maltase structural gene. We isolated new maltose-fermenting revertants of a nonfermenting strain which carried a deletion disruption of the MAL63 gene. All 16 revertants isolated expressed maltase constitutively. In one revertant studied in detail, strain R10, constitutive expression was demonstrated to be linked to MAL6, semidominant, trans acting, and residing outside the MAL63-MAL61-MAL62 genes. From these studies we propose the existence of a second trans-acting regulatory gene at the MAL6 locus. We call this new gene MAL64. We mapped the MAL64 gene 2.3 centimorgans to the left of MAL63. The role of the MAL64 gene product in maltose fermentation is discussed.

scholarly journals Molecular cloning and analysis of the scon-2 negative regulatory gene of Neurospora crassa.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 5207-5214 ◽  
Author(s):  
J V Paietta
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Coordinate Control ◽  
Mrna Content ◽  
Sib Selection

The sulfur regulatory system of Neurospora crassa is composed of a group of highly regulated structural genes (e.g., the gene encoding arylsulfatase) that are under coordinate control of scon+ (sulfur controller) negative and cys-3+ positive regulatory genes. In scon-1 (previously designated sconC) and scon-2 mutants, there is constitutive expression of sulfur structural genes regardless of the sulfur level available to the cells. The scon-2+ gene was cloned by sib selection screening of a cosmid-based gene library. The screening was based on the use of chromate, a toxic sulfate analog, which is transported into scon-2 cells grown on high sulfur but is not transported into cells that have regained normal sulfur regulation. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to confirm that the cloned segment mapped to the proper chromosomal location. In wild-type cells, Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that a 2.6-kilobase scon-2+ transcript was present at a substantial level only under sulfur-derepressing conditions. Kinetic analysis showed that scon-2+ mRNA content increased as the cells became sulfur starved. Further, scon-2+ RNA was detectable in a nuclear transcription assay only under derepressing conditions. In scon-1, the levels of scon-2+ mRNA were found to be constitutive. In the cys-3 regulatory mutant, there was a reduced level of scon-2+ transcript. cys-3+ and ars-1+ mRNAs were present under both derepressing and repressing conditions in the scon-2 mutant. Repeat-induced point mutation-generated scon-2 mutants were identical in phenotype to the known mutant.

scholarly journals Identification of a second trans-acting gene controlling maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis.

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 2757-2765 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Dubin ◽  
E L Perkins ◽  
R B Needleman ◽  
C A Michels
Keyword(s):  
Structural Gene ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Gene Products ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Maltose Permease ◽  
Maltose Fermentation ◽  
New Gene

Maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces spp. requires the presence of a dominant MAL locus. The MAL6 locus has been cloned and shown to encode the structural genes for maltose permease (MAL61), maltase (MAL62), and a positively acting regulatory gene (MAL63). Induction of the MAL61 and MAL62 gene products requires the presence of maltose and the MAL63 gene. Mutations within the MAL63 gene produce nonfermenting strains unable to induce the two structural gene products. Reversion of these mal63 nonfermenters to maltose fermenters nearly always leads to the constitutive expression of maltase and maltose permease, and constitutivity is always linked to MAL6. We demonstrated that for one such revertant, strain C2, constitutivity did not require the MAL63 gene, since deletion disruption of this gene did not affect the constitutive expression of the structural genes. In addition, constitutivity was trans acting. Deletion disruption of the MAL6-linked structural genes for maltase and maltose permease in this strain did not affect the constitutive expression of a second, unlinked maltase structural gene. We isolated new maltose-fermenting revertants of a nonfermenting strain which carried a deletion disruption of the MAL63 gene. All 16 revertants isolated expressed maltase constitutively. In one revertant studied in detail, strain R10, constitutive expression was demonstrated to be linked to MAL6, semidominant, trans acting, and residing outside the MAL63-MAL61-MAL62 genes. From these studies we propose the existence of a second trans-acting regulatory gene at the MAL6 locus. We call this new gene MAL64. We mapped the MAL64 gene 2.3 centimorgans to the left of MAL63. The role of the MAL64 gene product in maltose fermentation is discussed.

scholarly journals Deletion of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis α-Crystallin-Like hspX Gene Causes Increased Bacterial Growth In Vivo

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 861-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanmin Hu ◽  
Farahnaz Movahedzadeh ◽  
Neil G. Stoker ◽  
Anthony R. M. Coates
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Major Antigen ◽  
Oxide Stress ◽  
Unusual Phenotype

ABSTRACT Hypervirulent mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whose growth rates are higher in vivo, have now been reported to have mutations in both regulatory and structural genes, but the basis for this unusual phenotype is not understood. One hypervirulence gene, dosR (devR, Rv2031c), activates transcription of approximately 50 genes in this pathogen in response to hypoxia and nitric oxide stress. The most dramatic activation (∼80-fold) is activation of the hspX (acr, Rv2031c) gene, which encodes a 16-kDa α-crystallin-like protein that is a major antigen. In this study we found that a Δacr mutant exhibited increased growth following infection of BALB/c mice in vivo and in both resting and activated macrophages in vitro (as measured by the number of CFU). The increased growth in macrophages was equal to that of a ΔdosR mutant, while introduction of a constitutively expressed hspX gene reduced the ΔdosR virulence to wild-type levels. These results suggest that the increased number of CFU of the ΔdosR mutant was largely due to loss of hspX expression. We also confirmed that constitutive expression of hspX slows growth in vitro, and we propose that hspX plays an active role in slowing the growth of M. tuberculosis in vivo immediately following infection.

scholarly journals Characterization of a positive regulatory gene, LAC9, that controls induction of the lactose-galactose regulon of Kluyveromyces lactis: structural and functional relationships to GAL4 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1111-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
L V Wray ◽  
M M Witte ◽  
R C Dickson ◽  
M I Riley
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Glucose Repression ◽  
Kluyveromyces Lactis ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Functional Relationships ◽  
Functional Implications

Lactose or galactose induces the expression of the lactose-galactose regulon in Kluyveromyces lactis. We show here that the regulon is not induced in strains defective in LAC9. We demonstrate that this gene codes for a regulatory protein that acts in a positive manner to induce transcription. The LAC9 gene was isolated by complementation of a lac9 defective strain. DNA sequence analysis of the gene gave a deduced protein of 865 amino acids. Comparison of this sequence with that of the GAL4 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed three regions of homology. One region of about 90 amino acid occurs at the amino terminus, which is known to mediate binding of GAL4 protein to upstream activator sequences. We speculate that a portion of this region, adjacent to the "metal-binding finger," specifies DNA binding. We discuss possible functions of the two other regions of homology. The functional implications of these structural similarities were examined. When LAC9 was introduced into a gal4 defective strain of S. cerevisiae it complemented the mutation and activated the galactose-melibiose regulon. However, LAC9 did not simply mimic GAL4. Unlike normal S. cerevisiae carrying GAL4, the strain carrying LAC9 gave constitutive expression of GAL1 and MEL1, two genes in the regulon. The strain did show glucose repression of the regulon, but repression was less severe with LAC9 than with GAL4. We discuss the implications of these results and how they may facilitate our understanding of the LAC9 and GAL4 regulatory proteins.

The structural gene for a phosphorus-repressible phosphate permease in Neurospora crassa can complement a mutation in positive regulatory gene nuc-1

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1376-1379
Author(s):  
B J Mann ◽  
R A Akins ◽  
A M Lambowitz ◽  
R L Metzenberg
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Structural Gene ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Cosmid Clone ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Regulatory Locus

van+, a gene encoding a phosphorus-repressible phosphate permease, was isolated by its ability to complement nuc-1, a positive regulatory locus that normally regulates van+ expression. This was unexpected because the nuc-1 host already contained a resident van+ gene. Plasmids carrying van+ complemented a nuc-2 mutation as well. Probing of RNA from untransformed wild-type (nuc-1+) and constitutive (nuc-1c) strains by van+ probes indicated that levels of the van+ transcript were subject to control by nuc-1+. Probing of the same RNAs with a cosmid clone, containing approximately 15 kilobases of upstream and downstream DNA, revealed no other detectable phosphorus-regulated transcripts within this 40-kilobase region of the chromosome.

Gal80 proteins of Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are highly conserved but contribute differently to glucose repression of the galactose regulon

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7566-7576
Author(s):  
F T Zenke ◽  
W Zachariae ◽  
A Lunkes ◽  
K D Breunig
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Glucose Repression ◽  
Kluyveromyces Lactis ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Fold Induction

We cloned the GAL80 gene encoding the negative regulator of the transcriptional activator Gal4 (Lac9) from the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. The deduced amino acid sequence of K. lactis GAL80 revealed a strong structural conservation between K. lactis Gal80 and the homologous Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, with an overall identity of 60% and two conserved blocks with over 80% identical residues. K. lactis gal80 disruption mutants show constitutive expression of the lactose/galactose metabolic genes, confirming that K. lactis Gal80 functions in essentially in the same way as does S. cerevisiae Gal80, blocking activation by the transcriptional activator Lac9 (K. lactis Gal4) in the absence of an inducing sugar. However, in contrast to S. cerevisiae, in which Gal4-dependent activation is strongly inhibited by glucose even in a gal80 mutant, glucose repressibility is almost completely lost in gal80 mutants of K. lactis. Indirect evidence suggests that this difference in phenotype is due to a higher activator concentration in K. lactis which is able to overcome glucose repression. Expression of the K. lactis GAL80 gene is controlled by Lac9. Two high-affinity binding sites in the GAL80 promoter mediate a 70-fold induction by galactose and hence negative autoregulation by Gal80. Gal80 in turn not only controls Lac9 activity but also has a moderate influence on its rate of synthesis. Thus, a feedback control mechanism exists between the positive and negative regulators. By mutating the Lac9 binding sites of the GAL80 promoter, we could show that induction of GAL80 is required to prevent activation of the lactose/galactose regulon in glycerol or glucose plus galactose, whereas the noninduced level of Gal80 is sufficient to completely block Lac9 function in glucose.

scholarly journals The signal for glucose repression of the lactose-galactose regulon is amplified through subtle modulation of transcription of the Kluyveromyces lactis Kl-GAL4 activator gene.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1924-1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Kuzhandaivelu ◽  
W K Jones ◽  
A K Martin ◽  
R C Dickson
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Repression ◽  
Rotational Symmetry ◽  
Kluyveromyces Lactis ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Genetic Regulation ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Important Principle ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Beta Galactosidase

Induction of the lactose-galactose regulon is strongly repressed by glucose in some but not all strains of Kluyveromyces lactis. We show here that in strongly repressed strains, two to three times less Kl-GAL4 mRNA is synthesized and that expression of structural genes in the regulon such as LAC4, the structural gene for beta-galactosidase, is down regulated 40-fold or more. Comparative analysis of strains having a strong or weak repression phenotype revealed a two-base difference in the promoter of the Kl-GAL4 (also called LAC9) positive regulatory gene. This two-base difference is responsible for the strong versus the weak repression phenotype. The two base changes are symmetrically located in a DNA sequence having partial twofold rotational symmetry (14 of 21 bases). We hypothesize that this region functions as a sensitive regulatory switch, an upstream repressor sequence (URS). According to our model, the presence of glucose in the culture medium signals, by an unidentified pathway, a repressor protein to bind the URS. Binding reduces transcription of the Kl-GAL4 gene so that the concentration of the Kl-GAL4 protein falls below the level needed for induction of LAC4 and other genes in the regulon. For strains showing weak glucose repression, we hypothesize that the two base changes in the URS reduce repressor binding so that the regulon is not repressed. Our results illustrate an important principle of genetic regulation: a small (2- to 3-fold) change in the concentration of a regulatory protein can produce a large (40-fold or greater) change in expression of structural genes. This mechanism of signal amplification could play a role in many biological phenomena that require regulated transcription.

scholarly journals The structural gene for a phosphorus-repressible phosphate permease in Neurospora crassa can complement a mutation in positive regulatory gene nuc-1.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1376-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
B J Mann ◽  
R A Akins ◽  
A M Lambowitz ◽  
R L Metzenberg
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Structural Gene ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Cosmid Clone ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Regulatory Locus

van+, a gene encoding a phosphorus-repressible phosphate permease, was isolated by its ability to complement nuc-1, a positive regulatory locus that normally regulates van+ expression. This was unexpected because the nuc-1 host already contained a resident van+ gene. Plasmids carrying van+ complemented a nuc-2 mutation as well. Probing of RNA from untransformed wild-type (nuc-1+) and constitutive (nuc-1c) strains by van+ probes indicated that levels of the van+ transcript were subject to control by nuc-1+. Probing of the same RNAs with a cosmid clone, containing approximately 15 kilobases of upstream and downstream DNA, revealed no other detectable phosphorus-regulated transcripts within this 40-kilobase region of the chromosome.

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