Flexibility and interchangeability of polyadenylation signals in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Various signal motifs have been reported to be essential for proper mRNA 3'-end formation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, none of these motifs has been shown to be sufficient to direct 3'-end processing and/or transcription termination. Therefore, several structural motifs have to act in concert for efficient 3'-end formation. In the region upstream of the three polyadenylation sites of the yeast gene for alcohol dehydrogenase I (ADH1), we have identified a hitherto unknown signal sequence contained within the octamer AAAAAAAA. This motif, located 11 nucleotides upstream of the first ADH1 polyadenylation site, is responsible for the utilization of this site in vitro and in vivo, since mutational alteration drastically reduced 3'-end formation at this position. Insertion of 38 ADH1-derived nucleotides encompassing the (A)8 motif into the 3'-end formation-deficient cyc1-512 deletion mutant restored full processing capacity in vitro. Insertion of the octamer alone did not restore 3'-end formation, although mutation of the (A)8 motif in the functional construct had abolished 3'-end processing activity almost completely. This demonstrates that the sequence AAAAAAAA is a necessary, although not sufficient, signal for efficient mRNA 3'-end formation in S. cerevisiae.

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Identification of pre-mRNA polyadenylation sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.12.9.4215-4229.1992 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 4215-4229

Author(s):

S Heidmann ◽

B Obermaier ◽

K Vogel ◽

H Domdey

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Adh1 Gene ◽

Polyadenylation Sites ◽

Yeast Genes

In contrast to higher eukaryotes, little is known about the nature of the sequences which direct 3'-end formation of pre-mRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hexanucleotide AAUAAA, which is highly conserved and crucial in mammals, does not seem to have any functional importance for 3'-end formation in yeast cells. Instead, other elements have been proposed to serve as signal sequences. We performed a detailed investigation of the yeast ACT1, ADH1, CYC1, and YPT1 cDNAs, which showed that the polyadenylation sites used in vivo can be scattered over a region spanning up to 200 nucleotides. It therefore seems very unlikely that a single signal sequence is responsible for the selection of all these polyadenylation sites. Our study also showed that in the large majority of mRNAs, polyadenylation starts directly before or after an adenosine residue and that 3'-end formation of ADH1 transcripts occurs preferentially at the sequence PyAAA. Site-directed mutagenesis of these sites in the ADH1 gene suggested that this PyAAA sequence is essential for polyadenylation site selection both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the 3'-terminal regions of the yeast genes investigated here are characterized by their capacity to act as signals for 3'-end formation in vivo in either orientation.

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Identification of pre-mRNA polyadenylation sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.12.9.4215 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 4215-4229 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

S Heidmann ◽

B Obermaier ◽

K Vogel ◽

H Domdey

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Adh1 Gene ◽

Polyadenylation Sites ◽

Yeast Genes

In contrast to higher eukaryotes, little is known about the nature of the sequences which direct 3'-end formation of pre-mRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hexanucleotide AAUAAA, which is highly conserved and crucial in mammals, does not seem to have any functional importance for 3'-end formation in yeast cells. Instead, other elements have been proposed to serve as signal sequences. We performed a detailed investigation of the yeast ACT1, ADH1, CYC1, and YPT1 cDNAs, which showed that the polyadenylation sites used in vivo can be scattered over a region spanning up to 200 nucleotides. It therefore seems very unlikely that a single signal sequence is responsible for the selection of all these polyadenylation sites. Our study also showed that in the large majority of mRNAs, polyadenylation starts directly before or after an adenosine residue and that 3'-end formation of ADH1 transcripts occurs preferentially at the sequence PyAAA. Site-directed mutagenesis of these sites in the ADH1 gene suggested that this PyAAA sequence is essential for polyadenylation site selection both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the 3'-terminal regions of the yeast genes investigated here are characterized by their capacity to act as signals for 3'-end formation in vivo in either orientation.

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Different classes of polyadenylation sites in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.11.6.3060 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 3060-3069 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

S Irniger ◽

C M Egli ◽

G H Braus

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Fusion Gene ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Test System ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Sequence Elements ◽

Polyadenylation Sites ◽

Point Mutagenesis

This report provides an analysis of the function of polyadenylation sites from six different genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These sites were tested for their ability to turn off read-through transcription into the URA3 gene in vivo when inserted into an ACT-URA3 fusion gene. The 3' ends of all polyadenylation sites inserted into the test system in their natural configuration are identical to the 3' ends of the chromosomal genes. We identified two classes of polyadenylation sites: (i) efficient sites (originating from the genes GCN4 and PHO5) that were functional in a strict orientation-dependent manner and (ii) bidirectional sites (derived from ARO4, TRP1, and TRP4) that had a distinctly reduced efficiency. The ADH1 polyadenylation site was efficient and bidirectional and was shown to be a combination of two polyadenylation sites of two convergently transcribed genes. Sequence comparison revealed that all efficient unidirectional polyadenylation sites contain the sequence TTTTTAT, whereas all bidirectional sites have the tripartite sequence TAG...TA (T)GT...TTT. Both sequence elements have previously been proposed to be involved in 3' end formation. Site-directed point mutagenesis of the TTTTTAT sequence had no effect, whereas mutations within the tripartite sequence caused a reduced efficiency for 3' end formation. The tripartite sequence alone, however, is not sufficient for 3' end formation, but it might be part of a signal sequence in the bidirectional class of yeast polyadenylation sites. Our findings support the assumption that there are at least two different mechanisms with different sequence elements directing 3' end formation in yeast.

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Different classes of polyadenylation sites in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.11.6.3060-3069.1991 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 3060-3069

Author(s):

S Irniger ◽

C M Egli ◽

G H Braus

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Fusion Gene ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Test System ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Sequence Elements ◽

Polyadenylation Sites ◽

Point Mutagenesis

This report provides an analysis of the function of polyadenylation sites from six different genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These sites were tested for their ability to turn off read-through transcription into the URA3 gene in vivo when inserted into an ACT-URA3 fusion gene. The 3' ends of all polyadenylation sites inserted into the test system in their natural configuration are identical to the 3' ends of the chromosomal genes. We identified two classes of polyadenylation sites: (i) efficient sites (originating from the genes GCN4 and PHO5) that were functional in a strict orientation-dependent manner and (ii) bidirectional sites (derived from ARO4, TRP1, and TRP4) that had a distinctly reduced efficiency. The ADH1 polyadenylation site was efficient and bidirectional and was shown to be a combination of two polyadenylation sites of two convergently transcribed genes. Sequence comparison revealed that all efficient unidirectional polyadenylation sites contain the sequence TTTTTAT, whereas all bidirectional sites have the tripartite sequence TAG...TA (T)GT...TTT. Both sequence elements have previously been proposed to be involved in 3' end formation. Site-directed point mutagenesis of the TTTTTAT sequence had no effect, whereas mutations within the tripartite sequence caused a reduced efficiency for 3' end formation. The tripartite sequence alone, however, is not sufficient for 3' end formation, but it might be part of a signal sequence in the bidirectional class of yeast polyadenylation sites. Our findings support the assumption that there are at least two different mechanisms with different sequence elements directing 3' end formation in yeast.

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The Highly Conserved tRNAHis Guanylyltransferase Thg1p Interacts with the Origin Recognition Complex and Is Required for the G2/M Phase Transition in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic Cell ◽

10.1128/ec.4.4.832-835.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 832-835 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Terri S. Rice ◽

Min Ding ◽

David S. Pederson ◽

Nicholas H. Heintz

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Origin Recognition Complex ◽

Nuclear Division ◽

Permissive Temperature ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

M Phase ◽

And Migration ◽

Origin Recognition

ABSTRACT Here we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae tRNAHis guanylyltransferase Thg1p interacts with the origin recognition complex in vivo and in vitro and that overexpression of hemagglutinin-Thg1p selectively impedes growth of orc2-1(Ts) cells at the permissive temperature. Studies with conditional mutants indicate that Thg1p couples nuclear division and migration to cell budding and cytokinesis in yeast.

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Topoisomerase I involvement in illegitimate recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.16.4.1805 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 1805-1812 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

J Zhu ◽

R H Schiestl

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Chromosome Aberrations ◽

Topoisomerase I ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Hot Spot ◽

Illegitimate Recombination ◽

Wild Type ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Chromosome aberrations may cause cancer and many heritable diseases. Topoisomerase I has been suspected of causing chromosome aberrations by mediating illegitimate recombination. The effects of deletion and of overexpression of the topoisomerase I gene on illegitimate recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been studied. Yeast transformations were carried out with DNA fragments that did not have any homology to the genomic DNA. The frequency of illegitimate integration was 6- to 12-fold increased in a strain overexpressing topoisomerase I compared with that in isogenic control strains. Hot spot sequences [(G/C)(A/T)T] for illegitimate integration target sites accounted for the majority of the additional events after overexpression of topoisomerase I. These hot spot sequences correspond to sequences previously identified in vitro as topoisomerase I preferred cleavage sequences in other organisms. Furthermore, such hot spot sequences were found in 44% of the integration events present in the TOP1 wild-type strain and at a significantly lower frequency in the top1delta strain. Our results provide in vivo evidence that a general eukaryotic topoisomerase I enzyme nicks DNA and ligates nonhomologous ends, leading to illegitimate recombination.

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3'-end-forming signals of yeast mRNA.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.15.11.5983 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 5983-5990 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Z Guo ◽

F Sherman

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Cleavage Sites ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Higher Eukaryotes ◽

A Site

It was previously shown that three distinct but interdependent elements are required for 3' end formation of mRNA in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: (i) the efficiency element TATATA and related sequences, which function by enhancing the efficiency of positioning elements; (ii) positioning elements, such as TTAAGAAC and AAGAA, which position the poly(A) site; and (iii) the actual site of polyadenylation. In this study, we have shown that several A-rich sequences, including the vertebrate poly(A) signal AATAAA, are also positioning elements. Saturated mutagenesis revealed that optimum sequences of the positioning element were AATAAA and AAAAAA and that this element can tolerate various extents of replacements. However, the GATAAA sequence was completely ineffective. The major cleavage sites determined in vitro corresponded to the major poly(A) sites observed in vivo. Our findings support the assumption that some components of the basic polyadenylation machinery could have been conserved among yeasts, plants, and mammals, although 3' end formation in yeasts is clearly distinct from that of higher eukaryotes.

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Molecular genetic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase mutants reveals a noncatalytic function of the ADE3 gene product and an additional folate-dependent enzyme

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.10.11.5679-5687.1990 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 5679-5687

Author(s):

C K Barlowe ◽

D R Appling

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

De Novo ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Gene Replacement ◽

Molecular Genetic Analysis ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Purine Synthesis

In eucaryotes, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (formyl-THF) synthetase, 5,10-methenyl-THF cyclohydrolase, and NADP(+)-dependent 5,10-methylene-THF dehydrogenase activities are present on a single polypeptide termed C1-THF synthase. This trifunctional enzyme, encoded by the ADE3 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is thought to be responsible for the synthesis of the one-carbon donor 10-formyl-THF for de novo purine synthesis. Deletion of the ADE3 gene causes adenine auxotrophy, presumably as a result of the lack of cytoplasmic 10-formyl-THF. In this report, defined point mutations that affected one or more of the catalytic activities of yeast C1-THF synthase were generated in vitro and transferred to the chromosomal ADE3 locus by gene replacement. In contrast to ADE3 deletions, point mutations that inactivated all three activities of C1-THF synthase did not result in an adenine requirement. Heterologous expression of the Clostridium acidiurici gene encoding a monofunctional 10-formyl-THF synthetase in an ade3 deletion strain did not restore growth in the absence of adenine, even though the monofunctional synthetase was catalytically competent in vivo. These results indicate that adequate cytoplasmic 10-formyl-THF can be produced by an enzyme(s) other than C1-THF synthase, but efficient utilization of that 10-formyl-THF for purine synthesis requires a nonenzymatic function of C1-THF synthase. A monofunctional 5,10-methylene-THF dehydrogenase, dependent on NAD+ for catalysis, has been identified and purified from yeast cells (C. K. Barlowe and D. R. Appling, Biochemistry 29:7089-7094, 1990). We propose that the characteristics of strains expressing full-length but catalytically inactive C1-THF synthase could result from the formation of a purine-synthesizing multienzyme complex involving the structurally unchanged C1-THF synthase and that production of the necessary one-carbon units in these strains is accomplished by an NAD+ -dependent 5,10-methylene-THF dehydrogenase.

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A new class of histone H2A mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes specific transcriptional defects in vivo.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.15.4.1999 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 1999-2009 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

J N Hirschhorn ◽

A L Bortvin ◽

S L Ricupero-Hovasse ◽

F Winston

Keyword(s):

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Activation Function ◽

Histone H2a ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

New Class ◽

Suc2 Promoter ◽

Encoding Gene ◽

Transcription Activation Function

Nucleosomes have been shown to repress transcription both in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanisms by which this repression is overcome are only beginning to be understood. Recent evidence suggests that in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, many transcriptional activators require the SNF/SWI complex to overcome chromatin-mediated repression. We have identified a new class of mutations in the histone H2A-encoding gene HTA1 that causes transcriptional defects at the SNF/SWI-dependent gene SUC2. Some of the mutations are semidominant, and most of the predicted amino acid changes are in or near the N- and C-terminal regions of histone H2A. A deletion that removes the N-terminal tail of histone H2A also caused a decrease in SUC2 transcription. Strains carrying these histone mutations also exhibited defects in activation by LexA-GAL4, a SNF/SWI-dependent activator. However, these H2A mutants are phenotypically distinct from snf/swi mutants. First, not all SNF/SWI-dependent genes showed transcriptional defects in these histone mutants. Second, a suppressor of snf/swi mutations, spt6, did not suppress these histone mutations. Finally, unlike in snf/swi mutants, chromatin structure at the SUC2 promoter in these H2A mutants was in an active conformation. Thus, these H2A mutations seem to interfere with a transcription activation function downstream or independent of the SNF/SWI activity. Therefore, they may identify an additional step that is required to overcome repression by chromatin.

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