title: Striking similarities between the regulatory mechanisms governing yeast mating-type genes and mammalian major histocompatibility complex genes.
abstract: Expression of a mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene is in part regulated by a silencer DNA sequence element which binds a complex of silencer factors. This negative regulatory system is shown to be strikingly similar to the yeast alpha 2 mating-type repression system. A moderate DNA sequence homology exists between the MHC class I silencer DNA element and the yeast alpha 2 operator. Mammalian silencer factors specifically bind to the yeast alpha 2 operator DNA and also specifically interact with a yeast alpha 2-binding protein. Furthermore, the alpha 2 operator functions as a silencer element in mammalian cells when placed upstream of a MHC class I promoter.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D000072235:Mating Factor; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010455:Peptides; D010675:Pheromones; D000072235:Mating Factor