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Published on: November 26, 2013
Cell signaling can direct either binary or graded transcriptional responses
1Department of Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Room B211, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5323, USA.
The EMBO Journal
|June 19, 2001
Summary
Gene expression control can be binary or graded. This study reveals that the GAL1 promoter
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Transcriptional control is often considered a binary switch, explaining phenomena like monoallelic gene expression.
- Understanding the mechanisms governing binary versus graded gene expression is crucial for comprehending cellular responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying binary and graded transcriptional responses.
- To determine how signaling pathways and transcription factors influence the nature of gene expression changes at the GAL1 promoter.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell analysis of the GAL1 promoter activity.
- Manipulation of transcriptional activator (Gal4) and repressor (Mig1) activity using synthetic ligands.
- Genetic studies involving the Gal80 repressor and Mig1 in endogenous signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Gal4 and Mig1 regulation individually led to graded changes in GAL1 promoter activity.
- In the context of the endogenous glucose-responsive pathway, these factors contributed to a binary response, mediated by Gal80 regulation.
- Mig1 regulation by a separate pathway resulted in graded GAL1 promoter activity.
- Isogenetic cells exhibited either binary or graded responses depending on growth conditions.
Conclusions:
- The GAL1 promoter can exhibit both binary and graded transcriptional behaviors.
- The genes Mig1 and Gal80 are critical determinants of whether the Gal1 promoter displays binary or graded responses.
- Cellular context and growth conditions dictate the mode of transcriptional control.
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