The SKP1 gene of Kluyveromyces lactis was isolated as a suppressor of a let
hal temperature-sensitive mutation in the Saccharolmyces cervisiae CTF13 ge
ne (Chromosome Transmission Factor 13). klSKkP1 was localized at chromosome
V, adjacent to KlPAS3. A similar arrangement of the two genes is present i
n S. cerevisiae. Disruption of the KlSKP1 gene was lethal, whereas overexpr
ession of KlSKP1 lead to a decreased growth rate, to swollen and chain-form
ing cells with an increased DNA content, and to decreased plasmid stability
. In both yeasts, promoter constructs lacking most of the purported binding
sequence showed increased transcription levels of klSKP1 in comparison to
constructs with the entire promoter.