A SEARCH IN THE GENOME OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE FOR GENES REGULATED VIA STRESS-RESPONSE ELEMENTS

Stress response elements (STREs, core consensus AG(4) or C4T) have bee n demonstrated previously to occur in the upstream region of a number of genes responsive to induction by a variety of stress signals. This stress response is mediated by the homologous transcription factors Ms n2p and Msn4p, which bind specifically to STREs. Double mutants (msn2 msn4) deficient in these transcription factors have been shown to be h ypersensitive to severe stress conditions. To obtain a more representa tive overview of the set of yeast genes controlled via this regulon, a computer search of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome was carried ou t for genes, which, similar to most known STRE-controlled genes, exhib it at least two STREs in their upstream region. In addition to the gre at majority of genes previously known to be controlled via STREs, 69 o pen reading-frames were detected. Expression patterns of a set of thes e were examined by grid filter hybridization, and 14 genes were examin ed by Northern analysis. Comparison of the expression patterns of thes e genes demonstrates that they are all STRE-controlled although their detailed expression patterns differ considerably. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.