Structure of the ARO3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the genes ARO3 and ARO4 encode isoenzymes of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase. Both genes are derepressed seven-fold under the general control of amino acid biosynthesis. A previously isolated 1.7 kb fragment containing the ARO3 gene and the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions was sequenced. The endpoints of the ARO3 transcript coding for a 370 amino acid protein were mapped by primer extension experiments and S1 nuclease digestion. Promoter elements involved in transcription initiation and responsible for the strong general control derepression response are discussed.