Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the STE12 protein mediates transcriptional induction of cell type-specific genes in response to pheromones. STE12 binds in vitro to the pheromone response elements (PREs) present in the control region of a-specific genes. STE12 is also required for transcription of alpha-specific genes, but there is no evidence that it binds directly to these genes. Instead, the MAT alpha-encoded protein alpha 1 and the MCM1 product bind to the DNA element that is responsible for alpha-specific and a-factor-inducible expression. To explore the role of STE12 in the pheromone induction of alpha-specific genes, we cloned STE12 and MAT alpha 1 homologs from the related yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. The K. lactis STE12 protein did not cooperate with the S. cerevisiae alpha 1 protein to promote the overall mating process or the induction of transcription of an alpha-specific gene. However, introduction of both K. lactis STE12 along with K. lactis alpha 1 did restore mating, suggesting that an interaction between STE12 and alpha 1 is important for alpha-specific gene activation. We also show that bacterially expressed STE12 and alpha 1 are able to form a complex in vitro. Thus, we demonstrate a coupling in alpha cells between a protein functioning in cell identity, alpha 1, with a protein responsive to the pheromone-induced signal STE12.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Base Sequence
-
Cell Differentiation / genetics
-
Conserved Sequence
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
-
Fungal Proteins / chemistry
-
Fungal Proteins / genetics*
-
Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
-
GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
-
Kluyveromyces / genetics
-
Mating Factor
-
Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Peptides / chemistry
-
Peptides / genetics
-
Peptides / metabolism*
-
Pheromones / genetics*
-
Protein Sorting Signals / chemistry
-
Protein Sorting Signals / metabolism
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
-
Sequence Analysis, DNA
-
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
-
Signal Transduction*
-
Transcription Factors / chemistry
-
Transcription Factors / genetics
-
Transcription Factors / metabolism*
-
Transcription Factors / physiology
-
Transcriptional Activation
Substances
-
DNA-Binding Proteins
-
Fungal Proteins
-
Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein
-
Peptides
-
Pheromones
-
Protein Sorting Signals
-
STE12 protein, S cerevisiae
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
-
Transcription Factors
-
Mating Factor
-
GTP-Binding Proteins
Associated data
-
GENBANK/L11593
-
GENBANK/L11594
-
GENBANK/L16016
-
GENBANK/L21155
-
GENBANK/L21156
-
GENBANK/L24529
-
GENBANK/S56762
-
GENBANK/S56763
-
GENBANK/Z15047
-
GENBANK/Z15048