Yeast genes GIS1–4: multicopy suppressors of the Gal⁻ phenotype of snf1 mig1 srb8/10/11 cells

Abstract

Cyclin C and the cyclin C-dependent protein kinase are associated with the RNA polymerase II Mediator complex, which regulates initiation of transcription in response to signals from activators and repressors bound to upstream promoter elements. Disruption of the corresponding genes, SRB11 and SRB10, in budding yeast causes a reduction in expression of the GAL genes, which is particularly pronounced in a mig1 snf1 background. We have screened two yeast genomic libraries for genes that can suppress this phenotype when overexpressed. Seven suppressor genes were identified, GIS1–7. GIS1 encodes one of two related zinc-finger proteins, which also share two other highly conserved domains present in several eukaryotic transcription factors. GIS2 encodes a homologue of the mammalian CNBP and fission yeast Byr3 proteins. GIS3 and GIS4 predict proteins with no obvious similarities to any known proteins. GIS5–7 are identical to the previously described genes PDE2, SGE1 and TUB3, respectively. None of the suppressor genes seem to be involved in Mediator function. Instead, we find that the GIS1, GIS2 and GIS4 genes interact with the CDC25 gene, indicating a possible involvement of these genes in the RAS/cAMP signaling pathway.