Regulation of gene expression by a metabolic enzyme

Science. 2004 Oct 15;306(5695):482-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1096773.

Abstract

Gene expression in eukaryotes is normally believed to be controlled by transcriptional regulators that activate genes encoding structural proteins and enzymes. To identify previously unrecognized DNA binding activities, a yeast proteome microarray was screened with DNA probes; Arg5,6, a well-characterized mitochondrial enzyme involved in arginine biosynthesis, was identified. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Arg5,6 is associated with specific nuclear and mitochondrial loci in vivo, and Arg5,6 binds to specific fragments in vitro. Deletion of Arg5,6 causes altered transcript levels of both nuclear and mitochondrial target genes. These results indicate that metabolic enzymes can directly regulate eukaryotic gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Culture Media
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Introns
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor) / metabolism*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Arg5,6 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Culture Media
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Fungal
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
  • Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor)