title: A basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor essential for cytochrome p450 induction in response to alkanes in yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.
abstract: When the alkane-assimilating yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is cultivated on n-alkanes, it changes cellular metabolism for adaptation by inducing cytochrome p450 and other genes. From a comparative analysis of promoters of alkane-inducible genes, we identified a cis-acting element, ARE1 (alkane responsive element 1), which provides transcription induction in response to n-alkanes. In a genetic selection for mutants that were defective in ARE1-mediated transcription induction in the presence of n-alkanes, we found that the YAS1 (yeast alkane signaling) gene is essential for alkane response. The YAS1 gene encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family protein. Loss of Yas1p causes defects in n-alkane-dependent transcription induction of the p450 gene and growth on n-alkanes. Yas1p localizes to nuclei and binds to promoters containing ARE1. Yas1p also binds to its own promoter, and the expression of YAS1 is induced by n-alkanes. These features suggest that Yas1p is a novel transcription factor mediating alkane signaling and that it provides an autoregulatory loop.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Setsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamagami
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morioka
authors.forename: Ryouichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001665:Binding Sites; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002455:Cell Division; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D020218:Response Elements; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D025062:Yarrowia / Q000378:metabolism*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase