The yeast protein Xtc1 functions as a direct transcriptional repressor

Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jun 1;30(11):2358-64. doi: 10.1093/nar/30.11.2358.

Abstract

The yeast protein Xtc1 was identified as a protein that binds directly and specifically to the activation domains of acidic activators such as E2F-1, Gal4 and VP16. Additionally, it was shown to co-purify with the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme complex and it was suggested that Xtc1 functions as a regulator of transcription that modulates the response of RNA polymerase II to transcriptional activators. We have further analyzed the transcription function of Xtc1 and show that its fusion to a heterologous DNA binding domain can repress transcription of a reporter gene in vivo in an Srb10/11-dependent manner. We suggest that the presence of Xtc1 in the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme could help to recruit an Srb10-active form of the holoenzyme to target promoters. This same protein has also been implicated in mitochondrial DNA recombination, maintenance and repair. Determination of the subcellular localization using a GFP-Xtc1 fusion shows that it localizes to both the nucleus and the mitochondria in vivo, which is consistent with Xtc1 having a function in both cellular compartments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Holoenzymes / chemistry
  • Holoenzymes / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / chemistry
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Polymerase II / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / cytology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Cyclins
  • Holoenzymes
  • MHR1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • SSN8 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • SSN3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RNA Polymerase II