BioProject

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, copper ions regulate gene expression through the two transcriptional activators, Ace1 and Mac1. More...

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, copper ions regulate gene expression through the two transcriptional activators, Ace1 and Mac1. Ace1 mediates Cu-induced gene expression in cells exposed to stressful levels of copper salts, whereas Mac1 activates a subset of genes under copper-deficient conditions. DNA microarray hybridization experiments revealed a limited set of yeast genes differentially expressed under growth conditions of excess copper or copper deficiency. Mac1 activates the expression of six S. cerevisiae genes, including CTR1, CTR3, FRE1, FRE7, YJL217w and YFR055w. Two of the last three newly identified Mac1 target genes have no known function, the third, YFR055w, is homologous to cystathionine gamma-lyase encoded by CYS3. Several genes that are differentially expressed in cells containing a constitutively active Mac1, designated Mac1up1, are not direct targets of Mac1. Induction or repression of these genes is likely a secondary effect of cells due to constitutive Mac1 activity. Elevated copper levels induced the expression of the metallothioneins CUP1 and CRS5, and two genes, FET3 and FTR1, in the iron uptake system. Cu-induced FET3 and FTR1 expression arises from an indirect Cu effect on cellular Fe pools. This study is described in more detail in Gross C et al.(2000) J Biol Chem 275:32310-6 Keywords: other Less...