DETECTION OF A PROTEIN WHICH BINDS SPECIFICALLY TO THE UPSTREAM REGION OF THE PCBAB GENE IN PENICILLIUM-CHRYSOGENUM

The upstream region of the pcbAB gene from Penicillium chrysogenum was screened for protein-binding sites using an electromobility shift ass ay. A specific protein/DNA interaction was detected within a fragment covering the region -387 to -242 relative to the pcbAB translational s tart codon. The appearance of this protein and pcbAB mRNA in culture e xtracts occurred at the same time point in fermentations, suggesting t hat the protein might be a transcription activator. The putative upstr eam activating sequence was located more precisely using cross-competi tion assays. These indicated the involvement of the 7-bp motif TGCCAAG in the binding of the protein.