Identification of the crossover site during FLP-mediated recombination in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmid 2 microns circle

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 3357-3367
Author(s):  
M McLeod ◽  
S Craft ◽  
J R Broach

The FLP protein of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmid 2 microns circle catalyzes site-specific recombination between two repeated segments present on the plasmid. In this paper we present results of experiments we performed to define more precisely the features of the FLP recognition target site, which we propose to designate FRT, and to determine the actual recombination crossover point in vivo. We found that essential sequences for the recombination event are limited to an 8-base-pair core sequence and two 13-base-pair repeated units immediately flanking it. This is the region identified as the FLP binding site in vitro and at which FLP protein promotes specific single-strand cleavages (B. J. Andrews, G. A. Proteau, L. G. Beatty, and P. D. Sadowski, Cell 40:795-803, 1985; J. F. Senecoff, R. C. Bruckner, and M. M. Cox, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7270-7274, 1985). Mutations within the core domain can be suppressed by the presence of the identical mutation in the chromatid with which it recombines. However, mutations outside the core are not similarly suppressed. We found that strand exchange during FLP recombination occurs most of the time within the core region, proceeding through a heteroduplex intermediate. Finally, we found that most FLP-mediated events are reciprocal exchanges and that FLP-catalyzed gene conversions occur at low frequency. The low level of gene conversion associated with FLP recombination suggests that it proceeds by a breakage-joining reaction and that the two events are concerted.

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 3357-3367 ◽  
Author(s):  
M McLeod ◽  
S Craft ◽  
J R Broach

The FLP protein of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmid 2 microns circle catalyzes site-specific recombination between two repeated segments present on the plasmid. In this paper we present results of experiments we performed to define more precisely the features of the FLP recognition target site, which we propose to designate FRT, and to determine the actual recombination crossover point in vivo. We found that essential sequences for the recombination event are limited to an 8-base-pair core sequence and two 13-base-pair repeated units immediately flanking it. This is the region identified as the FLP binding site in vitro and at which FLP protein promotes specific single-strand cleavages (B. J. Andrews, G. A. Proteau, L. G. Beatty, and P. D. Sadowski, Cell 40:795-803, 1985; J. F. Senecoff, R. C. Bruckner, and M. M. Cox, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7270-7274, 1985). Mutations within the core domain can be suppressed by the presence of the identical mutation in the chromatid with which it recombines. However, mutations outside the core are not similarly suppressed. We found that strand exchange during FLP recombination occurs most of the time within the core region, proceeding through a heteroduplex intermediate. Finally, we found that most FLP-mediated events are reciprocal exchanges and that FLP-catalyzed gene conversions occur at low frequency. The low level of gene conversion associated with FLP recombination suggests that it proceeds by a breakage-joining reaction and that the two events are concerted.


1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 1440-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Johnston ◽  
R W Davis

The GAL1 and GAL10 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are divergently transcribed, with 606 base pairs of DNA separating their transcription initiation sites. These two genes are stringently coregulated: their expression is induced ca. 1,000-fold in cells growing on galactose and is repressed by growth on glucose. The nucleotide sequence of the region of DNA between these genes and the precise sites of transcription initiation are presented here. The most notable feature of the nucleotide sequence of this region is a 108-base-pair guanine-plus-cytosine-rich stretch of DNA located approximately in the middle of the region between GAL1 and GAL10. Analysis of the effects of mutations that alter the region between these two genes, constructed in vitro or selected in vivo, suggest that these guanine-plus-cytosine-rich sequences are required for the expression of both genes. The region of DNA between GAL1 and GAL10 is sufficient for regulation of expression of these genes: fusion of the region to the yeast HIS3 gene places HIS3 under GAL control.


1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 1440-1448
Author(s):  
M Johnston ◽  
R W Davis

The GAL1 and GAL10 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are divergently transcribed, with 606 base pairs of DNA separating their transcription initiation sites. These two genes are stringently coregulated: their expression is induced ca. 1,000-fold in cells growing on galactose and is repressed by growth on glucose. The nucleotide sequence of the region of DNA between these genes and the precise sites of transcription initiation are presented here. The most notable feature of the nucleotide sequence of this region is a 108-base-pair guanine-plus-cytosine-rich stretch of DNA located approximately in the middle of the region between GAL1 and GAL10. Analysis of the effects of mutations that alter the region between these two genes, constructed in vitro or selected in vivo, suggest that these guanine-plus-cytosine-rich sequences are required for the expression of both genes. The region of DNA between GAL1 and GAL10 is sufficient for regulation of expression of these genes: fusion of the region to the yeast HIS3 gene places HIS3 under GAL control.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 2728-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
W D Heyer ◽  
A W Johnson ◽  
U Reinhart ◽  
R D Kolodner

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strand exchange protein 1 (Sep1; also referred to as Xrn1, Kem1, Rar5, or Stp beta) catalyzes the formation of hybrid DNA from model substrates in vitro. The protein is also a 5'-to-3' exonuclease active on DNA and RNA. Multiple roles for the in vivo function of Sep1, ranging from DNA recombination and cytoskeleton to RNA turnover, have been proposed. We show that Sep1 is an abundant protein in vegetative S. cerevisiae cells, present at about 80,000 molecules per diploid cell. Protein levels were not changed during the cell cycle or in response to DNA-damaging agents but increased twofold during meiosis. Cell fractionation and indirect immunofluorescence studies indicated that > 90% of Sep1 was cytoplasmic in vegetative cells, and indirect immunofluorescence indicated a cytoplasmic localization in meiotic cells as well. The localization supports the proposal that Sep1 has a role in cytoplasmic RNA metabolism. Anti-Sep1 monoclonal antibodies detected cross-reacting antigens in the fission yeast Schizosccharomyces pombe, in Drosophila melanogaster embryos, in Xenopus laevis, and in a mouse pre-B-cell line.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4220-4228 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Mathison ◽  
M Winey ◽  
C Soref ◽  
M R Culbertson ◽  
G Knapp

To evaluate the role of exon domains in tRNA splicing, the anti-codon stem of proline pre-tRNAUGG from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was altered by site-directed mutagenesis of the suf8 gene. Sixteen alleles were constructed that encode mutant pre-tRNAs containing all possible base combinations in the last base pair of the anticodon stem adjacent to the anticodon loop (positions 31 and 39). The altered pre-tRNAs were screened by using an in vitro endonucleolytic cleavage assay to determine whether perturbations in secondary structure affect the intron excision reaction. The pre-tRNAs were cleaved efficiently whenever secondary structure in the anticodon stem was maintained through standard base pairing or G.U interactions. However, most of the pre-tRNAs with disrupted secondary structure were poor substrates for intron excision. We also determined the extent to which the suf8 alleles produce functional products in vivo. Each allele was integrated in one to three copies into a yeast chromosome or introduced on a high-copy-number plasmid by transformation. The formation of a functional product was assayed by the ability of each allele to suppress the +1 frameshift mutation his4-713 through four-base codon reading, as shown previously for the SUF8-1 suppressor allele. We found that alleles containing any standard base pair or G.U pair at position 31/39 in the anticodon stem failed to suppress his4-713. We could not assess in vivo splicing with these alleles because the tRNA products, even if they are made, would be expected to read a normal triplet rather than a quadruplet codon. However, all of the alleles that contained a disrupted base pair at position 31/ 39 in the anticodon stem altered the structure of the tRNA in a manner that caused frameshift suppression. Suppression indicated that splicing must have occurred to some extent in vivo even though most of the suppression alleles produced pre-tRNAs that were cleaved with low efficiency or not at all in vitro. These results have important implications for the interpretation of in vitro cleavage assays in general and for the potential use of suppressors to select mutations that affects tRNA splicing.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4220-4228
Author(s):  
L Mathison ◽  
M Winey ◽  
C Soref ◽  
M R Culbertson ◽  
G Knapp

To evaluate the role of exon domains in tRNA splicing, the anti-codon stem of proline pre-tRNAUGG from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was altered by site-directed mutagenesis of the suf8 gene. Sixteen alleles were constructed that encode mutant pre-tRNAs containing all possible base combinations in the last base pair of the anticodon stem adjacent to the anticodon loop (positions 31 and 39). The altered pre-tRNAs were screened by using an in vitro endonucleolytic cleavage assay to determine whether perturbations in secondary structure affect the intron excision reaction. The pre-tRNAs were cleaved efficiently whenever secondary structure in the anticodon stem was maintained through standard base pairing or G.U interactions. However, most of the pre-tRNAs with disrupted secondary structure were poor substrates for intron excision. We also determined the extent to which the suf8 alleles produce functional products in vivo. Each allele was integrated in one to three copies into a yeast chromosome or introduced on a high-copy-number plasmid by transformation. The formation of a functional product was assayed by the ability of each allele to suppress the +1 frameshift mutation his4-713 through four-base codon reading, as shown previously for the SUF8-1 suppressor allele. We found that alleles containing any standard base pair or G.U pair at position 31/39 in the anticodon stem failed to suppress his4-713. We could not assess in vivo splicing with these alleles because the tRNA products, even if they are made, would be expected to read a normal triplet rather than a quadruplet codon. However, all of the alleles that contained a disrupted base pair at position 31/ 39 in the anticodon stem altered the structure of the tRNA in a manner that caused frameshift suppression. Suppression indicated that splicing must have occurred to some extent in vivo even though most of the suppression alleles produced pre-tRNAs that were cleaved with low efficiency or not at all in vitro. These results have important implications for the interpretation of in vitro cleavage assays in general and for the potential use of suppressors to select mutations that affects tRNA splicing.


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