Green fluorescent protein-Dal80p illuminates up to 16 distinct foci that colocalize with and exhibit the same behavior as chromosomal DNA proceeding through the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

J Bacteriol. 2001 Aug;183(15):4636-42. doi: 10.1128/JB.183.15.4636-4642.2001.

Abstract

Four GATA family DNA binding proteins mediate nitrogen catabolite repression-sensitive transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Gln3p and Gat1p are transcriptional activators, while Dal80p and Deh1p repress Gln3p- and Gat1p-mediated transcription by competing with these activators for binding to DNA. Strong Dal80p binding to DNA is thought to result from C-terminal leucine zipper-mediated dimerization. Many Dal80p binding site-homologous sequences are relatively evenly distributed across the S. cerevisiae genome, raising the possibility that Dal80p might be able to "stain" DNA. We demonstrate that cells containing enhanced green fluorescent protein-Dal80p (EGFP-Dal80p) exhibit up to 16 fluorescent foci that colocalize with DAPI (4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole)-positive material and follow DNA movement through the cell cycle, suggesting that EGFP-Dal80p may indeed be useful for monitoring yeast chromosomes in live cells and in real time.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / physiology*
  • DNA, Fungal / physiology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Fluorescence
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • GATA Transcription Factors
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Microtubule Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Trans-Activators*

Substances

  • BIM1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DAL80 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DAL82 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • GATA Transcription Factors
  • Indoles
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Microtubule Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • DAPI