Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae meiosis-specific transcription factor Ndt80 is responsible for the induction of a class of genes referred to as middle sporulation genes. Among the members of this family are the B-type cyclins and other genes whose products are required for meiotic chromosome division and spore morphogenesis. Inactivation of NDT80 leads to a failure to induce the middle sporulation genes and a subsequent arrest in pachytene. The expression of NDT80 is itself highly regulated. The initial transcription of NDT80 is dependent upon the protein kinase Ime2; once Ndt80 protein accumulates, it activates its own promoter, thus generating an autoactivation loop. In addition to being transcriptionally regulated, Ndt80 protein is posttranslationally regulated. Phosphorylation of Ndt80 occurs coincident with its activation as a transcription factor. If expressed prematurely in meiosis, Ndt80 accumulates initially in an unmodified form that is subsequently modified by phosphorylation. In contrast, Ndt80 expressed in ime2 mutant strains does not become modified and has a reduced ability to activate transcription of its target genes. Ime2 can also phosphorylate Ndt80 in vitro, further supporting a direct role for Ime2 in the phosphorylation of Ndt80. These data indicate that Ime2 plays a novel and previously unexpected role in promoting chromosome dissemination and progress through meiotic development by activating Ndt80.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell Biol

Publication Date

10/2002

Volume

22

Pages

7024 - 7040

Keywords

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus, Binding Sites, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cell Nucleus, DNA-Binding Proteins, Fungal Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal, Genes, Fungal, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Meiosis, Phosphorylation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Kinases, Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins, Spores, Fungal, Substrate Specificity, Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Activation