ABF1 Sites Research Articles

Abf1 and other general regulatory factors control ribosome biogenesis gene expression in budding yeast.

Ribosome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves a regulon of >200 genes (Ribi genes) coordinately regulated in response to nutrient availability and cellular growth rate. Two cis-acting elements called PAC and RRPE are known to mediate Ribi gene repression in response to nutritional downshift. Here, we show that most Ribi gene promoters also contain binding sites for one or more General Regulatory Factors (GRFs), most frequently Abf1 and Reb1, and that these factors are enriched in vivo at Ribi promoters. Abf1/Reb1/Tbf1 promoter association was required for full Ribi gene expression in rich medium and for its modulation in response to glucose starvation, characterized by a rapid drop followed by slow recovery. Such a response did not entail changes in Abf1 occupancy, but it was paralleled by a quick increase, followed by slow decrease, in Rpd3L histone deacetylase occupancy. Remarkably, Abf1 site disruption also abolished Rpd3L complex recruitment in response to starvation. Extensive mutational analysis of the DBP7 promoter revealed a complex interplay of Tbf1 sites, PAC and RRPE in the transcriptional regulation of this Ribi gene. Our observations point to GRFs as new multifaceted players in Ribi gene regulation both during exponential growth and under repressive conditions.

Promoter architecture and transcriptional regulation of Abf1-dependent ribosomal protein genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ribosomal protein gene (RPG) promoters display binding sites for either Rap1 or Abf1 transcription factors. Unlike Rap1-associated promoters, the small cohort of Abf1-dependent RPGs (Abf1-RPGs) has not been extensively investigated. We show that RPL3, RPL4B, RPP1A, RPS22B and RPS28A/B share a common promoter architecture, with an Abf1 site upstream of a conserved element matching the sequence recognized by Fhl1, a transcription factor which together with Ifh1 orchestrates Rap1-associated RPG regulation. Abf1 and Fhl1 promoter association was confirmed by ChIP and/or gel retardation assays. Mutational analysis revealed a more severe requirement of Abf1 than Fhl1 binding sites for RPG transcription. In the case of RPS22B an unusual Tbf1 binding site promoted both RPS22B and intron-hosted SNR44 expression. Abf1-RPG down-regulation upon TOR pathway inhibition was much attenuated at defective mutant promoters unable to bind Abf1. TORC1 inactivation caused the expected reduction of Ifh1 occupancy at RPS22B and RPL3 promoters, but unexpectedly it entailed largely increased Abf1 association with Abf1-RPG promoters. We present evidence that Abf1 recruitment upon nutritional stress, also observed for representative ribosome biogenesis genes, favours RPG transcriptional rescue upon nutrient replenishment, thus pointing to nutrient-regulated Abf1 dynamics at promoters as a novel mechanism in ribosome biogenesis control.

Chromatin mediation of a transcriptional memory effect in yeast.

Previous studies have described a transcriptional “memory effect,” whereby transcript levels of many Abf1-regulated genes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are undiminished even after Abf1 has dissociated from its regulatory sites. Here we provide additional support for this effect and investigate its molecular basis. We show that the effect is observed in a distinct abf1 ts mutant from that used in earlier studies, demonstrating that it is robust, and use chromatin immunoprecipitation to show that Abf1 association is decreased similarly from memory effect and transcriptionally responsive genes at the restrictive temperature. We also demonstrate that the association of TATA-binding protein and Pol II decreases after the loss of Abf1 binding for transcriptionally responsive genes but not for memory effect genes. Examination of genome-wide nucleosome occupancy data reveals that although transcriptionally responsive genes exhibit increased nucleosome occupancy in abf1 ts yeast, the promoter regions of memory effect targets show no change in abf1 ts mutants, maintaining an open chromatin conformation even after Abf1 eviction. This contrasting behavior reflects different inherent propensity for nucleosome formation between the two classes, driven by the presence of A/T-rich sequences upstream of the Abf1 site in memory effect gene promoters. These sequence-based differences show conservation in closely related fungi and also correlate with different gene expression noise, suggesting a physiological basis for greater access to “memory effect” promoter regions. Thus, our results establish a conserved mechanism underlying a transcriptional memory effect whereby sequences surrounding Abf1 binding sequences affect local nucleosome occupancy following loss of Abf1 binding. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that sequence-based differences in the propensity for nucleosome occupancy can influence the transcriptional response of genes to an altered regulatory signal.

Functions of Protosilencers in the Formation and Maintenance of Heterochromatin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, transcriptionally silent heterochromatin at HML and HMR loci is established by silencers that recruit SIR complex and promote its propagation along chromatin. Silencers consist of various combinations of two or three binding sites for origin recognition complex (ORC), Abf1 and Rap1. A single ORC, Abf1 or Rap1 site cannot promote silencing, but can enhance silencing by a distant silencer, and is called a protosilencer. The mechanism of protosilencer function is not known. We examine the functions of ORC, Abf1 and Rap1 sites as components of the HMR-E silencer, and as protosilencers. We find that the Rap1 site makes a larger and unique contribution to HMR-E function compared to ORC and Abf1 sites. On the other hand, Rap1 site does not act as a protosilencer to assist HML-E silencer in forming heterochromatin, whereas ORC and Abf1 sites do. Therefore, different mechanisms may be involved in the roles of Rap1 site as a component of HMR-E and as a protosilencer. Heterochromatin formed by ORC or Abf1 site in collaboration with HML-E is not as stable as that formed by HMR-E and HML-E, but increasing the copy number of Abf1 site enhances heterochromatin stability. ORC and Abf1 sites acting as protosilencers do not modulate chromatin structure in the absence of SIR complex, which argues against the hypothesis that protosilencers serve to create a chromatin structure favorable for SIR complex propagation. We also investigate the function of ARS1 containing an ORC site and an Abf1 site as a protosilencer. We find that ARS1 inserted at HML enhances heterochromatin stability, and promotes de novo formation of a chromatin structure that partially resembles heterochromatin in an S phase dependent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that protosilencers aid in the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin structure.

Biochemical and genetic characterization of the dominant positive element driving transcription ofthe yeast TBP-encoding gene, SPT15.

We previously demonstrated that a combination of both positive and negative cis -acting upstream elements control the transcription of the gene encoding TBP ( SPT15 ) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . One of these elements found in that study, resident between 5' flanking sequences -147 and -128 , and termed PED (for positive element distal), was found to play an essential positive role in driving transcription of the gene encoding TBP. In this report, we map at nucleotide-level resolution, the critical residues which comprise PED, purify and sequence the protein that binds to it and determine that this PED binding factor is Abf1p, an abundant yeast protein previously broadly implicated in both gene regulation and DNA replication. In the case of the TBP-encoding gene, however, Abf1p works through the PED element which is a non-consensus binding site. Based upon the work of others, the PED-variant ABF1 site would be predicted to be a very poor binding site for this factor yet Abf1p binds PED and a consensus ABF1 site with comparable affinity. These results are discussed in light of the broader context of Abf1p-mediated gene regulation.

Genetic Tests of the Role of Abf1p in Driving Transcription of the Yeast TATA Box Bindng Protein-encoding Gene,SPT15

In this report we describe studies which utilized yeast strains bearing gain and loss of function alleles of ABF1 in order to attempt to directly implicate Abf1p in modulating transcription of the TBP-encoding gene, SPT15, in vivo. We found that overexpression of Abf1p in a yeast cell increased transcription of the TBP-encoding gene and that this stimulation depended upon the exact sequence of the Abf1p binding site (ABF1) present in the gene. Further, in a yeast strain expressing a temperature sensitive form of Abf1p, occupancy of the chromosomal ABF1 site in the TBP-encoding gene was immediately lost following a temperature shift. Both results suggest that Abf1p drives transcription of the TBP-encoding gene. Surprisingly though we found that continuous ABF1 cis-element occupancy by Abf1p was not acutely required for normal levels of transcription of either the TBP-encoding gene or other "Abf1p-driven" genes tested. We propose a model to explain these results and suggest mechanisms by which Abf1p could activate gene transcription.

Participation of the Yeast Activator Abf1 in Meiosis-Specific Expression of theHOP1Gene

The meiosis-specific gene HOP1, which encodes a component of the synaptonemal complex, is controlled through two regulatory elements, UASH and URS1H. Sites similar to URS1H have been identified in the promoter region of virtually every early meiosis-specific gene, as well as in many promoters of nonmeiotic genes, and it has been shown that the proteins that bind to this site function to regulate meiotic and nonmeiotic transcription. Sites similar to the UASH site have been found in a number of meiotic and nonmeiotic genes as well. Since it has been shown that UASH functions as an activator site in vegetative haploid cells, it seemed likely that the factors binding to this site regulate both meiotic and nonmeiotic transcription. We purified the factor binding to the UASH element of the HOP1 promoter. Sequence analysis identified the protein as Abf1 (autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor 1), a multifunctional protein involved in DNA replication, silencing, and transcriptional regulation. We show by mutational analysis of the UASH site, that positions outside of the proposed UASH consensus sequence (TNTGN[A/T]GT) are required for DNA binding in vitro and transcriptional activation in vivo. A new UASH consensus sequence derived from this mutational analysis closely matches a consensus Abf1 binding site. We also show that an Abf1 site from a nonmeiotic gene can replace the function of the UASH site in the HOP1 promoter. Taken together, these results show that Abf1 functions to regulate meiotic gene expression.

GenomeInspector: a new approach to detect correlation patterns of elements on genomic sequences.

Most of the sequences determined in current genome sequencing projects remain at least partially unannotated. The available software for DNA sequence analysis is usually limited to the prediction of individual elements (level 1 methods), but does not assess the context of different motifs. However, the functionality of biological units like promoters depends on the correct spatial organization of multiple individual elements. Here, we present a second-level software package called GenomeInspector [[http:@www.gsf.de/biodv/genomeinspector.html ]], for further analysis of results obtained with level 1 methods (e.g. MatInspector [[http:@www.gsf.de/biodv/matinspector.html ]] or ConsInspector [[http:@www.gsf.de/biodv/consinspector.html++ +]]). One of the main features of this modular program is its ability to assess distance correlations between large sets of sequence elements which can be used for the identification and definition of basic patterns of functional units. The program provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface with direct comprehensive display of all results for megabase sequences. Sequence elements showing spatial correlations can be easily extracted and traced back to the nucleotide sequence with the program. GenomeInspector identified promoters of glycolytic enzymes in yeast [[http:@www.mips.biochem.mpg.de/mips/yeast/]] as members of a subgroup with unusual location of an ABF1 site. Solely on the basis of distance correlation analysis, the program correctly selected those transcription factors within these promoters already known to be involved in the regulation of glycolytic enzymes, demonstrating the power of this method.

Yeast intragenic transcriptional control: activation and repression sites within the coding region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LPD1 gene.

Though widely recognized in higher eukaryotes, the regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II by proteins that bind within the coding sequence remains largely speculative. We have shown for the LPD1 gene, encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase, that the coding sequence between +13 and +469 activated gene expression of an LPD1::lacZ fusion by up to sixfold in the presence of the upstream promoter. This downstream region, inserted upstream of a promoterless CYC1::lacZ fusion, activated gene expression in a carbon source-dependent manner by a factor of 15 to 111, independent of orientation. Deletion and mutational analysis identified two downstream activation sites (DAS1 and DAS2) and two downstream repressor sites (DRS1 and DRS2) that influence the rate of LPD1 transcription rather than mRNA degradation or translation. Activation from the DAS1 region (positions +137 to +191), encompassing a CDEI-like element, is twofold under derepressive conditions. Activation from DAS2 (+291 to +296), a CRE-like motif, is 12-fold for both repressed and derepressed states. DRS1, a pair of adjacent and opposing ABF1 sites (+288 to +313), is responsible for a 1.3- to 2-fold repression of transcription, depending on the carbon source. DRS1 requires the concerted action of DRS2 (a RAP1 motif at position +406) for repression of transcription only when the gene is induced. Gel mobility shift analysis and in vitro footprinting have shown that proteins bind in vitro to these downstream elements.

Yeast intragenic transcriptional control: activation and repression sites within the coding region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LPD1 gene.

Though widely recognized in higher eukaryotes, the regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II by proteins that bind within the coding sequence remains largely speculative. We have shown for the LPD1 gene, encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase, that the coding sequence between +13 and +469 activated gene expression of an LPD1::lacZ fusion by up to sixfold in the presence of the upstream promoter. This downstream region, inserted upstream of a promoterless CYC1::lacZ fusion, activated gene expression in a carbon source-dependent manner by a factor of 15 to 111, independent of orientation. Deletion and mutational analysis identified two downstream activation sites (DAS1 and DAS2) and two downstream repressor sites (DRS1 and DRS2) that influence the rate of LPD1 transcription rather than mRNA degradation or translation. Activation from the DAS1 region (positions +137 to +191), encompassing a CDEI-like element, is twofold under derepressive conditions. Activation from DAS2 (+291 to +296), a CRE-like motif, is 12-fold for both repressed and derepressed states. DRS1, a pair of adjacent and opposing ABF1 sites (+288 to +313), is responsible for a 1.3- to 2-fold repression of transcription, depending on the carbon source. DRS1 requires the concerted action of DRS2 (a RAP1 motif at position +406) for repression of transcription only when the gene is induced. Gel mobility shift analysis and in vitro footprinting have shown that proteins bind in vitro to these downstream elements.

A REB1-binding site is required for GCN4-independent ILV1 basal level transcription and can be functionally replaced by an ABF1-binding site.

The ILV1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the first committed step in isoleucine biosynthesis and is regulated by general control of amino acid biosynthesis. Deletion analysis of the ILV1 promoter revealed a GC-rich element important for the basal level expression. This cis-acting element, called ILV1BAS, is functional independently of whether GCN4 protein is present. Furthermore, unlike the situation at HIS4, the magnitude of GCN4-mediated derepression is independent of ILV1BAS. The element has homology to the consensus REB1-binding sequence CGGGTARNNR. Gel retardation assays showed that REB1 binds specifically to this element. We show that REB1-binding sites normally situated in the SIN3 promoter and in the 35S rRNA promoter can substitute for the ILV1 REB1 site. Furthermore, a SIN3 REB1 site containing a point mutation that abolishes REB1 binding does not support ILV1 basal level expression, suggesting that binding of REB1 is important for the control of ILV1 basal level expression. Interestingly, an ABF1-binding site can also functionally replace the ILV1 REB1-binding site. A mutated ABF1 site that displays a very low affinity for ABF1 does not functionally replace the ILV1 REB1 site. This suggests that ABF1 and REB1 may have related functions within the cell. Although the REB1-binding site is required for the ILV1 basal level expression, the site on its own stimulates transcription only slightly when combined with the CYC1 downstream promoter elements, indicating that another ILV1 promoter element functions in combination with the REB1 site to control high basal level expression.

A REB1-binding site is required for GCN4-independent ILV1 basal level transcription and can be functionally replaced by an ABF1-binding site.

The ILV1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the first committed step in isoleucine biosynthesis and is regulated by general control of amino acid biosynthesis. Deletion analysis of the ILV1 promoter revealed a GC-rich element important for the basal level expression. This cis-acting element, called ILV1BAS, is functional independently of whether GCN4 protein is present. Furthermore, unlike the situation at HIS4, the magnitude of GCN4-mediated derepression is independent of ILV1BAS. The element has homology to the consensus REB1-binding sequence CGGGTARNNR. Gel retardation assays showed that REB1 binds specifically to this element. We show that REB1-binding sites normally situated in the SIN3 promoter and in the 35S rRNA promoter can substitute for the ILV1 REB1 site. Furthermore, a SIN3 REB1 site containing a point mutation that abolishes REB1 binding does not support ILV1 basal level expression, suggesting that binding of REB1 is important for the control of ILV1 basal level expression. Interestingly, an ABF1-binding site can also functionally replace the ILV1 REB1-binding site. A mutated ABF1 site that displays a very low affinity for ABF1 does not functionally replace the ILV1 REB1 site. This suggests that ABF1 and REB1 may have related functions within the cell. Although the REB1-binding site is required for the ILV1 basal level expression, the site on its own stimulates transcription only slightly when combined with the CYC1 downstream promoter elements, indicating that another ILV1 promoter element functions in combination with the REB1 site to control high basal level expression.

Participation of ABF-1 protein in expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CAR1 gene

DNA fragments previously shown to be required for expression of the CAR1 (arginase) gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to support transcriptional activation of a reporter gene in a heterologous expression vector were shown to bind purified regulatory protein ABF-1. Two ABF-1 sites were identified in the CAR1 upstream region, one to which ABF-1 protein bound with high affinity and a second to which it bound much less avidly. The higher-affinity ABF-1 binding site upstream of CAR1 was an effective competitor of the HMRE, ARS1 B domain, and COR2-GFI binding sequences for protein binding. Point mutations in the CAR1 high-affinity ABF-1 binding site resulted in a 12-fold loss of transcriptional activation of a reporter gene compared with the wild-type CAR1 DNA fragment. These data are consistent with the suggestion that ABF-1 protein is one of the transcription factors involved in expression of the CAR1 gene.

ABF1 binding sites in yeast RNA polymerase genes.

We have used gel retardation and DNase protection assays to investigate the trans-acting factors involved in the regulation of yeast RNA polymerase genes RPC160 and RPC40. The same binding component was found to interact with the promoter of the two genes, at a short distance (100-150 base pairs) from the transcription start sites. From its size, its DNA-binding specificity and its immunological properties, this factor appears to correspond to the autonomous replication sequences and silencer-binding factor ABF1/SBF-B. The interaction of ABF1 with the polymerase upstream box sequence was characterized using gel DNA-binding assay. The factor binds with high affinity to the polymerase upstream box sequence (Kapp = 5.10(-10) M). A mutational analysis showed that nine base pairs belonging to two separated attachment sites are involved in factor binding. The consensus sequence RTCRYB(N)4ACG was derived from the present binding studies. These data provide an experimental basis for evaluating the efficiency of known or potential ABF1 sites and for comparing several factors with ABF1-like binding properties.