Mutations in the yeast Nhp6 protein can differentially affect its in vivo functions.
Nhp6A and Nhp6B from S. cerevisiae are required for viability at 38 degrees C because they are involved in transcription of SNR6 by RNA polymerase III. Nhp6A also represses transcription of NHP6B by RNA polymerase II. Nhp6 belongs to the HMG1 family, defined by an 80 amino acid DNA binding domain, which includes six highly conserved residues. These amino acids were mutated in Nhp6A and their affects on Nhp6 function were assessed in vivo. Surprisingly, most of the changes allowed Nhp6A to function normally in supporting growth at 38 degrees C. However, six mutants had differential effects on in vivo function. Finally, two of the mutant proteins that did not restore Nhp6A function in vivo were shown to bind and bend DNA in vitro as well as wild type. Together, these results suggest that Nhp6 interacts with another protein(s) to carry out some of its biological functions and that this interaction might differ at promoters transcribed by RNA polymerase II versus RNA polymerase III.
Kruppa
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Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
Kolodrubetz
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D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D024001:HMGN Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D017354:Point Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D024001:HMGN Proteins; C086471:NHP6A protein, S cerevisiae; C086472:NHP6B protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D004247:DNA