Post-transcriptional control of gluconeogenic gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Main Author: Chacko, Alexander D.
• Published: University of Aberdeen 1999
• Subjects: 572.8; Genetics
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.301079

This thesis examines the post-transcriptional regulation of the gluconeogenic mRNAs <I>PCK1</I> and <I>FBP1</I> in <I>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</I>. By construction of a set of chimaeric <I>PCK1-PGK1</I> reporter genes, it was possible to show that sequences from the 5' end of the <I>PCK1</I> mRNA were capable of conferring post-transcriptional glucose regulation on the reporter. These regions were presumably the ultimate target of the glucose signal on the wild-type <I>PCK1</I> mRNA. Sequences from the 5' end of the <I>SDH2</I> mRNA had previously been shown to be required for the rapid degradation of that transcript observed in the presence of glucose. In addition, a number of other elements within the <I>PCK1</I> gene proved capable of constitutively destabilising the reporter mRNA. One of these bore similarity to a 70 bp mRNA destabilising element from the highly unstable <I>MATα1</I> mRNA. Overall, the decay patterns of the chimaeric <I>PCK1</I>-<I>PGK1</I> and <I>FBP1-PGK1</I> mRNAs were consistent with other studies of the decay of chimaeric <I>PGK1</I> mRNAs.