title: Transcription of two long noncoding RNAs mediates mating-type control of gametogenesis in budding yeast.
abstract: The cell-fate decision leading to gametogenesis is essential for sexual reproduction. In S. cerevisiae, only diploid MATa/α but not haploid MATa or MATα cells undergo gametogenesis, known as sporulation. We find that transcription of two long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediates mating-type control of sporulation. In MATa or MATα haploids, expression of IME1, the central inducer of gametogenesis, is inhibited in cis by transcription of the lncRNA IRT1, located in the IME1 promoter. IRT1 transcription recruits the Set2 histone methyltransferase and the Set3 histone deacetylase complex to establish repressive chromatin at the IME1 promoter. Inhibiting expression of IRT1 and an antisense transcript that antagonizes the expression of the meiotic regulator IME4 allows cells expressing the haploid mating type to sporulate with kinetics that are indistinguishable from that of MATa/α diploids. Conversely, expression of the two lncRNAs abolishes sporulation in MATa/α diploids. Thus, transcription of two lncRNAs governs mating-type control of gametogenesis in yeast.
authors.affiliation: David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Folkert J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Werven
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neuert
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hendrick
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lardenois
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buratowski
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Oudenaarden
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Primig
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amon
mesh_terms: D005718:Gametogenesis; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C080326:IME1 protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C071594:RME1 protein, S cerevisiae; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors