Genetic analysis connects SLX5 and SLX8 to the SUMO pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics. 2006 Mar;172(3):1499-509. doi: 10.1534/genetics.105.052811. Epub 2005 Dec 30.

Abstract

MOT1 encodes an essential ATPase that functions as a general transcriptional regulator in vivo by modulating TATA-binding protein (TBP) DNA-binding activity. Although MOT1 was originally identified both biochemically and in several genetic screens as a transcriptional repressor, a combination of subsequent genetic, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and microarray analysis suggested that MOT1 might also have an additional role in vivo as a transcriptional activator. To better understand the role(s) of MOT1 in vivo, we selected for genomic suppressors of a mot1 temperature-sensitive mutation. This selection identified mutations in SPT15 (TBP) and BUR6, both of which are clearly linked with MOT1 at the functional level. The vast majority of the suppressor mutations, however, unexpectedly occurred in six genes that encode known components of the SUMO pathway and in two other genes with unknown functions, SLX5 and SLX8. Additional results presented here, including extensive synthetic lethality observed between slx5delta and slx8delta and SUMO pathway mutations, suggest that SLX5 and SLX8 are new components or regulators of the SUMO pathway and that SUMO modification might have a general role in transcriptional regulation as part of the TBP regulatory network.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / genetics*
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / physiology
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / genetics
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / physiology
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / genetics
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein
  • Trans-Activators
  • Slx8 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • MOT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA Helicases
  • Slx5 protein, S cerevisiae