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N Tavernarakis

Publications and source records attributed to N Tavernarakis.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Genetic evidence for functional specificity of the yeast GCN2 kinase.

In yeast the GCN2 kinase mediates translational control of GCN4 by phosphorylating the alpha subunit of eIF-2 in response to extracellular amino acid limitation. Although phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha has been shown to inhibit global protein synthesis, amino acid starvation results in a specific activation effect on GCN4 mRNA translation. Under the same conditions, translation of other mRNAs appears only slightly affected. The mechanism responsible for the observed selectivity of the GCN2 kinase is not clear. Here, we present genetic evidence that suggests that locally restricted action of the GCN2 kinase facilitates GCN4-specific translational regulation.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Sequence analysis of a 40.7 kb segment from the left arm of yeast chromosome X reveals 14 known genes and 13 new open reading frames including homologues of genes clustered on the right arm of chromosome XI.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a 40.7 kb segment about 130 kb from the left end of chromosome X of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was determined from two overlapping cosmids. Computer analysis of that sequence revealed the presence of the previously known genes VPS35, INO1, SnR128, SnR190, MP12, YAK1, RPB4, YUR1, TIF2, MRS3 and URA2, three previously sequenced open reading frames (ORFs) of unknown function 5' of the INO1, 5' of the MP12 and 3' of the URA2 genes and 13 newly identified ORFs. One of the new ORFs is homologous to mammalian glycogenin glycosyltransferases and another has similarities to the human phospholipase D. Some others contain potential transmembrane regions or leucine zipper motifs. The existence of yeast expressed sequence tags for some of the newly identified ORFs indicates that they are transcribed. A cluster of six genes within 10 kb (YUR1, TIF2, two new ORFs, an RSP25 homologue and MRS3) have homologues arranged similarly within 28.5 kb on the right arm of chromosome XI.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A transient GCN4 mRNA destabilization follows GCN4 translational derepression.

Studies based on experimental strategies that utilized either inhibitors or structural alterations point to the existence of an inverse relationship between translation and stability of a given mRNA. In this study we have investigated the potential link between translation and stability of the yeast GCN4 mRNA whose translational rates change with respect to amino acid availability. We observed that under conditions favoring its translation, the steady state levels of the GCN4 mRNA were decreased, but this was not due to a measurable alternation in its decay rate. We have demonstrated that an extensive destabilization of this message is intimately coupled with its increased access to heavy polysomes, which occurs transiently in the process of translational derepression. This transient change in the stability is what readjusts the steady state levels of the GCN4 mRNA. This study demonstrates in vivo the existence of a mechanism of mRNA degradation that is coupled with the process of translation.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Transcriptional interference caused by GCN4 overexpression reveals multiple interactions mediating transcriptional activation.

Overproduction of Gcn4p in yeast cells resulted in the inhibition of transcription from promoters controlled by the GAL4 or dA:dT elements. We have demonstrated that this effect is mediated through the activation domain of Gcn4p and that the function of the transcriptional activator at the affected promoter is impaired. The inhibitory effect of Gcn4p and that the function of the transcriptional activator at the affected promoter is impaired. The inhibitory effect of Gcn4p on these promoters persisted in yeast strains disrupted for the ADA2 and/or GCN5 genes, whose products are required for only part of the transcriptional activation capacity of Gcn4p and other activators, but was alleviated by overexpression of gamma TFIIB. These results support the hypothesis that general transcription factors become unavailable at certain promoters when an activator is overexpressed and strongly imply the existence of an Ada2p/Gcn5p-independent pathway of communication between acidic activators and the basic transcription machinery. In a genetic screen, we have isolated a mutation which neutralises the squelching effects of Gcn4p. This AFR1-1 (activation function reduced) mutation is dominant, it affects the transcriptional activation properties of a number of activators and results in lethality when combined with a gcn5 disruption. Our results suggest that the AFR1 gene product is involved in the mediation of transcriptional activation.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗