Genetics, Vol. 168, 747-757, October 2004, Copyright © 2004
doi:10.1534/genetics.104.029611

Mutations in SIN4 and RGR1 Cause Constitutive Expression of MAL Structural Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Xin Wang and Corinne A. Michels1

Department of Biology, Queens College and the Graduate School of City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367

1 Corresponding author: Department of Biology, Queens College and the Graduate School of City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367.
E-mail: corinne_michels{at}qc.edu

Transcription of the Saccharomyces MAL structural genes is induced 40-fold by maltose and requires the MAL-activator and maltose permease. To identify additional players involved in regulating MAL gene expression, we carried out a genetic selection for MAL constitutive mutants. Strain CMY4000 containing MAL1 and integrated copies of MAL61promoter-HIS3 and MAL61promoter-lacZ reporter genes was used to select constitutive mutants. The 29 recessive mutants fall into at least three complementation groups. Group 1 and group 2 mutants exhibit pleiotropic phenotypes and represent alleles of Mediator component genes RGR1 and SIN4, respectively. The rgr1 and sin4 constitutive phenotype does not require either the MAL-activator or maltose permease, indicating that Mediator represses MAL basal expression. Further genetic analysis demonstrates that RGR1 and SIN4 work in a common pathway and each component of the Mediator Sin4 module plays a distinct role in regulating MAL gene expression. Additionally, the Swi/Snf chromatin-remodeling complex is required for full induction, suggesting a role for chromatin remodeling in the regulation of MAL gene expression. A sin4{Delta} mutation is unable to suppress the defects in MAL gene expression resulting from loss of the Swi/Snf complex component Snf2p. The role of the Mediator in MAL gene regulation is discussed.




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