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Yeast repressor alpha 2 binds to its operator cooperatively with yeast protein Mcm1
C A Keleher1, S Passmore, A D Johnson
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Researchers identified the yeast gene MCM1 as the source of the GRM transcriptional regulator. This protein, along with alpha 2, controls a-specific genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Yeast genetics
- Transcriptional regulation
Background:
- Two proteins, alpha 2 and general regulator of mating type (GRM), cooperatively bind DNA to repress a-specific genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- GRM's identity had only been biochemically characterized prior to this study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the gene encoding the GRM transcriptional regulatory activity.
- To confirm the functional interaction between the identified gene product and alpha 2.
Main Methods:
- Cooperative DNA-binding assays using the alpha 2 protein and the product of the yeast gene MCM1.
- Immunological detection of GRM activity in yeast cell extracts using antiserum against the MCM1 gene product.
Main Results:
- The product of the yeast gene MCM1 was sufficient to bind cooperatively with alpha 2 to the target operator sequence.
- Antiserum against MCM1 recognized GRM activity in yeast cells, indicating they are the same protein.
Conclusions:
- The yeast gene MCM1 encodes the GRM transcriptional regulatory activity.
- MCM1 acts in conjunction with alpha 2 to regulate a-specific gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.