The product of the MAT alpha 2 gene is a DNA-binding protein that acts as a repressor of two different sets of cell type-specific genes. In alpha cells, the alpha 2 protein represses the transcription of several a-specific genes. In a/alpha cells, the alpha 2 protein acts together with the product of the MATa1 gene, the a1 protein, to repress several genes used by haploids in the mating process. In addition to the mat alpha 2 mutations that result in defects in both types of regulation, other mat alpha 2 alleles have been described that result in defects in the repression of a-specific genes but that do not affect the ability of the alpha 2 and a1 proteins to interact to repress the haploid-specific genes. We report here the isolation of a new class of mat alpha 2 mutations that do not affect the ability of the alpha 2 protein to repress a-specific genes, but that interfere with the ability of the alpha 2 protein to interact with the a1 protein to repress the haploid-specific genes and establish the a/alpha cell type. These mutations may help determine the means by which the a1 protein interacts with alpha 2 to expand the set of genes under its control.

• PMID: 2851482
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Journal Article | Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Authors

Strathern J, Shafer B, Hicks J, McGill C

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