Molecular cloning and biosynthetic regulation of the cry1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: Molecular & general genetics Vol. 195; no. 3; pp. 500 - 506
• Main Authors: Himmelfarb, H.J, Vassarotti, A, Friesen, J.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.1984
• Subjects: Alkaloids - pharmacology; Chromosome Mapping; Cloning, Molecular; DNA Restriction Enzymes; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Genes, Fungal; Plasmids; Protein Biosynthesis; Ribosomal Proteins - biosynthesis; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; yeasts
• ISSN: 0026-8925; 1432-1874
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00341453

The cryptopleurine resistance gene, cry1, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been molecularly cloned using genetic complementation of cryptopleurine sensitivity by the cryptopleurine resistance gene contained in a clone library prepared from DNA of a cryptopleurine resistant strain. Analysis of RNA transcripts indicated that the cry1 gene is the template for a transcript of approximately 900 bases and that the primary transcript contains an intron of approximately 300 bases. In vitro hybrid selection translation experiments indicated that this transcript encodes a protein of molecular weight 17 kilodaltons which on two-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gels exactly coincides with ribosomal protein rp59. Further analysis showed that when the gene was present on a plasmid of about five copies per cell the amount of messenger RNA was elevated approximately five-fold compared to a cell that had only a single chromosomal copy. The rate of synthesis of ribosomal protein rp59 was not detectably elevated. These data suggest that the cry1 gene is regulated, at least in part, post-transcriptionally.