title: Sfp1 plays a key role in yeast ribosome biogenesis.
abstract: Sfp1, an unusual zinc finger protein, was previously identified as a gene that, when overexpressed, imparted a nuclear localization defect. sfp1 cells have a reduced size and a slow growth phenotype. In this study we show that SFP1 plays a role in ribosome biogenesis. An sfp1 strain is hypersensitive to drugs that inhibit translational machinery. sfp1 strains also have defects in global translation as well as defects in rRNA processing and 60S ribosomal subunit export. Microarray analysis has previously shown that ectopically expressed SFP1 induces the transcription of a large subset of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis. Many of these induced genes contain conserved promoter elements (RRPE and PAC). Our results show that activation of transcription from a reporter construct containing two RRPE sites flanking a single PAC element is SFP1 dependent. However, we have been unable to detect direct binding of the protein to these elements. This suggests that regulation of genes containing RRPEs is dependent upon Sfp1 but that Sfp1 may not directly bind to these conserved promoter elements; rather, activation may occur through an indirect mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fingerman
authors.forename: Vijayalakshmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nagaraj
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Vershon
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006921:Hygromycin B / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010303:Paromomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C117421:SFP1 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D006921:Hygromycin B; C026273:hygromycin A; D010303:Paromomycin; D003513:Cycloheximide