Point mutations in the yeast histone H4 gene prevent silencing of the silent mating type locus HML.
The N-terminal serine and four conserved lysine residues near the N-terminus of yeast histone H4 are acetylated. We found that a mutation that changed the fourth lysine to alanine resulted in specific derepression of the silent mating type locus HML, while mutations that altered the N-terminal serine or the first three lysines had only minor phenotypic effects. Our results support an active role for histone H4 in the silencing of gene expression at this locus.
Park
E C
EC
Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
Szostak
J W
JW
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D008239:Lysine; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012694:Serine; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology
D006657:Histones; D012694:Serine; D008239:Lysine