Identification of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial-DNA which can act as a promoter tightly regulated by carbon source when placed in the nucleus

• Published in: Current genetics Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 119 - 121
• Main Authors: MacIver, F.H, Dawes, I.W, Grant, C.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1997
• Subjects: ADN; beta-galactosidase; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Blotting, Southern; CARBON; Carbon - pharmacology; CARBONE; CARBONO; CCAAT-Binding Factor; Cell Nucleus; Cell Nucleus - genetics; CITOCROMO C OXIDASA; Cloning, Molecular; COX1; CULTURE MEDIA; CYTOCHROME C OXIDASE; CYTOCHROME C OXYDASE; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Electron Transport Complex IV; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Ethanol; Ethanol - metabolism; exons; EXPRESION GENICA; EXPRESSION DES GENES; Fungal Proteins; Fungal Proteins - genetics; GENE; GENE EXPRESSION; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; gene transfer; GENES; genetic transformation; Genetic Variation; GENETICA MITOCONDRIAL; genetics; GENETIQUE MITOCHONDRIALE; growth & development; INTRON; Introns; Lac Operon; Lactic Acid; Lactic Acid - metabolism; MEDIO DE CULTIVO; metabolism; MILIEU DE CULTURE; mitochondrial DNA; MITOCHONDRIAL GENETICS; NOYAU CELLULAIRE; nuclear genome; NUCLEO; NUCLEUS; Open Reading Frames; pharmacology; plasmid vectors; Plasmids; PROMOTER; promoter regions; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; recombinant DNA; reporter genes; SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - growth & development; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; structural genes; Transcription Factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; YEAST
• ISSN: 0172-8083; 1432-0983
• DOI: 10.1007/s002940050184

Screening of a promoter probe gene bank for DNA sequences that could act as inducible promoters following growth on non-fermentable carbon sources led to the identification of the mitochondrially encoded cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene (COX1) as an active sequence. Carbon-source regulation of this promoter was confirmed by a beta-galactosidase assay which showed a 31- and 180-fold induction of expression after growth on ethanol or lactate-based media respectively. Two elements matching the CCAAT-binding-factor motif, which is involved in activating transcription on non-fermentable carbon sources, were identified in the putative promoter. Expression was found to be reduced to low levels in otherwise isogenic hap3 and hap4 mutant strains. Thus, this mitochondrial DNA when placed in the nucleus can act as a promoter that is subject to strict carbon-source regulation. These observations are discussed both with respect to the origin of the S. cerevisiae COX1 gene in particular and with respect to the origin of introns in general.