Structure of the ABF1-homologue from Kluyveromyces marxianus

By transformation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain conditionally expressing the ABF1-gene, a Kluyveromyces marxianus DNA fragment carrying the gene encoding the ABF1-homologue of this yeast strain (KmABF1) was selected. Comparison of the sequence of the KmABF1 gene with that encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae ABF1 and the previously isolated ABF1-gene from Kluyveromyces lactis (KlABF1) revealed distinct regions displaying considerable homology and therefore most likely representing sequences encoding essential domains. In addition to the domains putatively involved in DNA binding of the protein factor, two short conserved amino acid sequence elements at the C-termini of the homologous proteins were identified, which are proposed to play a part in their trans-acting functions. This is the first report on the structure of a regulatory protein factor from K. marxianus.