TATA-dependent and TATA-independent transcription at the HIS4 gene of yeast

Two systems of transcription factors stimulate expression of the HIS4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. High-level transcription induced by amino-acid starvation is mediated by Gcn4 (ref. 1) and basal transcription is mediated jointly by the factors Bas1 and Bas2 (Pho2). We now show that wild-type G...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1990-11, Vol.348 (6296), p.82-85
Main Authors: Pellman, D, McLaughlin, M.E, Fink, G.R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Baking yeast
Base Sequence
Binding sites
Biological and medical sciences
Cellular biology
Derivatives
DNA-Binding Proteins
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungal Proteins - pharmacology
Gene expression
genes
Genes, Fungal - genetics
Genetics
HIS4 gene
Histidine - genetics
Low level
Medical research
Molecular and cellular biology
Molecular genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
Mutation
nucleotide sequences
Plasmids
Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics
Protein Kinases
Proteins
RNA
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
Site selection
TATA Box - genetics
transcription (genetics)
Transcription activation
Transcription factors
Transcription Factors - pharmacology
Transcription initiation
Transcription, Genetic - drug effects
Yeasts
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Summary:Two systems of transcription factors stimulate expression of the HIS4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. High-level transcription induced by amino-acid starvation is mediated by Gcn4 (ref. 1) and basal transcription is mediated jointly by the factors Bas1 and Bas2 (Pho2). We now show that wild-type Gcn4 requires the TATA element for correct messenger RNA start-site selection, but Gcn4 derivatives with deletions in the activation domain activate HIS4 transcription at the correct mRNA start site (I) in the absence of the TATA element. Gcn4 derivatives that activate TATA-independent transcription show low levels of activation. Similarly, we find that low levels of transcription by Bas1/Bas2 are TATA-independent, whereas high levels are TATA-dependent. These results show that the HIS4 TATA element is required for mRNA start-site selection only under conditions of high-level transcription.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/348082a0