Proteins that genetically interact with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor Gal11p emphasize its role in the initiation-elongation transition

Mol Genet Genomics. 2001 Aug;265(6):1076-86. doi: 10.1007/s004380100505.

Abstract

The GAL11 gene encodes a transcription factor that is a component of the SRB/Mediator sub-complex of the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In agreement with this biochemical characterization, Gal11p has been found to be required for optimal production of mRNA from many yeast promoters, and recessive mutations in GAL11 have been shown to cause pleiotropic defects. Despite this progress, the role of Gal11p in gene regulation remains largely unknown. In a multicopy suppressor analysis of a gal11delta mutation we have identified genes encoding proteins that are part of, or can interact with, the RNA polymerase II transcription complex, as well as factors involved in cell cycle regulation. Among the suppressors that are clearly related to the transcriptional apparatus, Gal11p genetically interacts with components of the SRB/Mediator complex, as well as with factors such as TFIIE and TFIIH that are required for promoter clearance and transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II. These findings, taken together with published results of biochemical and genetic analyses, suggest a role for Galllp at the interface between the SRB/Mediator complex and the general transcription factors TFIIE and TFIIH, which modulate, via phosphorylation of the CTD, the activity of the RNA polymerase II during the transition between initiation and elongation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / chemistry
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / genetics*
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Databases as Topic
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genomic Library
  • Mediator Complex
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • RNA Polymerase II / genetics
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Suppression, Genetic
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • GAL11 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Mediator Complex
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • PHO85 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RNA Polymerase II