An unexpected role for ubiquitylation of a transcriptional activator.
The yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 has served as a paradigm for understanding how eukaryotic cells mount rapid transcriptional responses to environmental changes. In this issue of Cell, Muratani et al. (2005) provide evidence that Gal4 ubiquitylation and destruction are required for activation by Gal4. Surprisingly, this modification is required at a postinitiation step in transcription for the production of mRNAs that are correctly processed and fully functional for translation.
Arndt
Karen
K
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Winston
Fred
F
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D044783:F-Box Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D044783:F-Box Proteins; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae; C481653:Mdm30 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014452:Ubiquitins; C071032:GRR1 protein, S cerevisiae; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D012319:RNA Polymerase II