SET1, a yeast member of the trithorax family, functions in transcriptional silencing and diverse cellular processes.
The trithorax gene family contains members implicated in the control of transcription, development, chromosome structure, and human leukemia. A feature shared by some family members, and by other proteins that function in chromatin-mediated transcriptional regulation, is the presence of a 130- to 140-amino acid motif dubbed the SET or Tromo domain. Here we present analysis of SET1, a yeast member of the trithorax gene family that was identified by sequence inspection to encode a 1080-amino acid protein with a C-terminal SET domain. In addition to its SET domain, which is 40-50% identical to those previously characterized, SET1 also shares dispersed but significant similarity to Drosophila and human trithorax homologues. To understand SET1 function(s), we created a null mutant. Mutant strains, although viable, are defective in transcriptional silencing of the silent mating-type loci and telomeres. The telomeric silencing defect is rescued not only by full-length episomal SET1 but also by the conserved SET domain of SET1. set1 mutant strains display other phenotypes including morphological abnormalities, stationary phase defects, and growth and sporulation defects. Candidate genes that may interact with SET1 include those with functions in transcription, growth, and cell cycle control. These data suggest that yeast SET1, like its SET domain counterparts in other organisms, functions in diverse biological processes including transcription and chromatin structure.
Nislow
C
C
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347, USA.
Ray
E
E
Pillus
L
L
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D014166:Transferases
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C077378:RAM2 protein, S cerevisiae; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063460:Trl protein, Drosophila; D014166:Transferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C411250:SET1 protein, S cerevisiae