MAP kinase and cAMP filamentation signaling pathways converge on the unusually large promoter of the yeast FLO11 gene

EMBO J. 1999 Mar 1;18(5):1257-69. doi: 10.1093/emboj/18.5.1257.

Abstract

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two major signal transduction pathways, the Kss1 MAPK pathway and the cAMP-regulated pathway, are critical for the differentiation of round yeast form cells to multicellular, invasive pseudohyphae. Here we report that these parallel pathways converge on the promoter of a gene, FLO11, which encodes a cell surface protein required for pseudohyphal formation. The FLO11 promoter is unusually large, containing at least four upstream activation sequences (UASs) and nine repression elements which together span at least 2.8 kb. Several lines of evidence indicate that the MAPK and cAMP signals are received by distinct transcription factors and promoter elements. First, regulation via the MAPK pathway requires the transcription factors Ste12p/Tec1p, whereas cAMP-mediated activation requires a distinct factor, Flo8p. Secondly, mutations in either pathway block FLO11 transcription. Overexpression of STE12 can suppress the loss of FLO8, and overexpression of FLO8 can suppress the loss of STE12. Finally, multiple distinct promoter regions of the FLO11 promoter are required for its activation by either Flo8p or Ste12p/ Tec1p. Thus, like the promoters of the key developmental genes, HO and IME1, the FLO11 promoter is large and complex, endowing it with the ability to integrate multiple inputs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / genetics
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases*
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • FLO11 protein, S cerevisiae
  • FLO8 protein, S cerevisaie
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • STE12 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • FUS3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • KSS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases