title: Transcription and regulatory signals at the mating type locus in yeast.
abstract: The mating type locus with two alleles (MATa and MAT alpha) determines cell type in yeast by activating and repressing sets of cell-type-specific genes. The two genes at MAT alpha, alpha 1 and alpha 2, are transcribed divergently from a central promoter region. Deletions in this intergenic region have been used to map DNA sequences involved in the transcription and regulation of the MAT alpha genes. A single promoter region, essential for transcription of both alpha 1 and alpha 2, is found in the region between alpha 1 and alpha 2. Deletions removing the alpha 1 or alpha 2 TATA box are still transcribed but the transcripts fail to initiate properly. A separate regulatory region is also found between alpha 1 and alpha 2. Deletions of this region lead to the constitutive expression of these genes. These regulatory mutants synthesize alpha 1 mRNA in diploids, but this is not sufficient to activate the alpha-specific genes.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D000072235:Mating Factor; D009154:Mutation; D009876:Operon; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D010455:Peptides; D000072235:Mating Factor