Expression of the divergent transcription unit containing the yeast PET122 and OXA1 genes

The nuclear PET122 gene of S. cerevisiae encodes a mitochondrial-localized protein that activates initiation of translation of the mitochondrial mRNA from the COX3 gene, which encodes subunit III of cytochrome c oxidase. The PET122 locus contains two divergent transcription units: one is involved in expression of PET122 mRNA and the mRNA for an adjacent gene OXA1, which is also required for cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis, and the other is involved in expression of an antisense RNA that is complementary to about two thirds of the PET122 mRNA and an adjacent gene YER152C of unknown function. Steady state levels of OXA1, PET122 sense and PET122 antisense RNAs were measured after growth of yeast cells under catabolite repressing or derepressing conditions, or after deletion of portions of the 5' flanking DNA of the genes. The results reported here indicate that the PET122 and OXA1 genes are unconventional in terms of the control of their transcription. Neither possesses a canonical TATA element and they exhibit no apparent need for native upstream DNA. These results raise the interesting possibility that PET122 and OXA1 transcription is controlled by downstream DNA, perhaps located within the coding regions of the respective genes.