The CUP2 gene product, regulator of yeast metallothionein expression, is a copper-activated DNA-binding protein.
CUP2 is a regulatory gene controlling expression of CUP1, which encodes the Cu-binding yeast metallothionein. CUP2, which is identical to the ACE1 gene, encodes a Cu-regulated DNA-binding protein. The CUP2 protein contains a cysteine-rich DNA-binding domain dependent on Cu+ and Ag+ ions which bind the cysteine residues and direct the refolding of the metal-free apoprotein. CUP2 mutant alleles from Cu-sensitive yeast strains have point mutations affecting the DNA-binding activity. These results establish CUP2 as the primary sensor of intracellular Cu+ in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, functioning as a Cu+-regulated transcriptional activator.
Buchman
C
C
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Skroch
P
P
Welch
J
J
Fogel
S
S
Karin
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein