title: MOT2 encodes a negative regulator of gene expression that affects basal expression of pheromone-responsive genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: Pheromones induce haploid cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to differentiate into a mating-competent state. Ste11p is one of several protein kinases required to transmit the pheromone-induced signal and to maintain basal expression of certain mating-specific genes in the absence of pheromone stimulation. To identify potential regulators of Ste11p, we screened for suppressors that restored mating and basal transcriptional competence to a strain with a conditionally functional Ste11p. This screen uncovered a novel gene we call MOT2, for modulator of transcription. A mot2 deletion mutation leads to modest increases in the basal amounts of mRNA for several pheromone-responsive genes. Yet mot2 deletion does not affect the signal transmission activity of the pathway in either the presence or absence of pheromone stimulation. Therefore, we propose that Mot2p, directly or indirectly, represses basal transcription of certain mating-specific genes. Because mot2 deletion mutants also have a conditional cell lysis phenotype, we expect that Mot2p regulatory effects may be more global than for mating-specific gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cade
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Errede
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae; D010675:Pheromones; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C086923:MOT2 protein, S cerevisiae; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases