Abstract
The two mating type loci MATa and MATα each produce two mRNAs that are transcribed in opposite and diverging directions from central promoters. Silent copies of MATa (HMRa) and MATα (HMLα) contain identical DNA sequences throughout the transcribed region, yet are not transcribed. It is concluded that sequences to the left of HMRa (and probably HMLα) must somehow affect transcription initiated at the centre of each locus 700 to 1,400 base pairs away. A possible mechanism for this position effect is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mortimer, R. K. & Hawthorne, D. C. in The Yeasts Vol. 1 (eds Rose, A. H. & Harrison, J. S.) 385–460 (Academic, New York 1969).
Nasmyth, K. A. & Tatchell, K. Cell 19, 753–764 (1980).
Strathern, J. N., Spatola, E., McGill, C. & Hicks, J. B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 2839–2843 (1980).
Hicks, J. B. & Herskowitz, I. Genetics 83, 245–258 (1976).
Strathern, J. N. & Herskowitz, I. Cell 17, 371–381 (1979).
Naumov, G. I. & Tolstorukov, I. I. Genetika 9, 82–91 (1973).
Harashima, S., Nogi, Y. & Oshima, Y. Genetics 77, 639–650 (1974).
Hicks, J. B., Strathern, J. N. & Herskowitz, I. in DNA Insertion Elements Plasmids and Episomes (eds Bukhari, A. I., Shapiro, J. A. & Adhya, S. L.) 457–462 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1977).
Strathern, J. N., Hicks, J. & Herskowitz, I. J. molec. Biol. (in the press).
Kassir, Y. & Simchen, G. Genetics 82, 187–202 (1976).
Rine, J., Strathern, J., Hicks, J. & Herskowitz, I. Genetics 93, 877–901 (1979).
Klar, A. J. S., Fogel, S. & Macleod, K. Genetics 93, 37–50 (1979).
Lewis, E. B. Adv. Genet. 3, 73–113 (1950).
Van der Ploeg, L. H. T. et al. Nature 283, 637–642 (1980).
Thomas, M., White, R. L. & Davis, R. W. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2294–2298 (1976).
Berk, A. J. & Sharp, P. A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 1274–1278 (1978).
Tatchell, K., Nasmyth, K. A., Hall, B. D., Astell, C. & Smith, M. Cell. (submitted).
Nasmyth, K. A., Tatchell, K., Hall, B. D., Astell, C. & Smith, M. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 45 (in the press).
Astell, C. et al. Cell. (submitted).
Hawthorne, D. C. Genetics 48, 1727–1729 (1963).
Hopper, A. K. & Mackay, V. Molec. gen. Genet. (in the press).
Kassir, Y. & Herskowitz, I. Molec. gen. Genet. (in the press).
Roberts, R. J. CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem. 4, 123–164 (1976).
Leffak, I. M., Grainger, R. & Weintrub, H. Cell 12, 837–845 (1977).
Saragosti, S., Moyne, G. & Yaniv, M. Cell 20, 65–73 (1980).
Hopper, A. K. & Hall, B. D. Genetics 80, 41–59 (1975).
Kaback, D. B., Angerer, L. M. & Davidson, N. Nucleic Acids Res. 6, 2499–2517 (1979).
Maxam, A. & Gilbert, W. Meth. Enzym. 65, 499–560 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nasmyth, K., Tatchell, K., Hall, B. et al. A position effect in the control of transcription at yeast mating type loci. Nature 289, 244–250 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/289244a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/289244a0
This article is cited by
-
The homeobox gene ATK1 of Arabidopsis thaliana is expressed in the shoot apex of the seedling and in flowers and inflorescence stems of mature plants
Plant Molecular Biology (1995)
-
Identification of a homeobox-containing gene with enhanced expression during soybean (Glycine max L.) somatic embryo development
Plant Molecular Biology (1994)
-
A regulatory hierarchy for cell specialization in yeast
Nature (1989)
-
Cloning and comparison of Aα mating-type alleles of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune
Molecular and General Genetics MGG (1989)
-
A DNA sequence which shows genomic variation in a, alpha and HO strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Current Genetics (1987)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
