Multiple basic helix-loop-helix proteins regulate expression of the ENO1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryot Cell. 2007 May;6(5):786-96. doi: 10.1128/EC.00383-06. Epub 2007 Mar 9.

Abstract

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) eukaryotic transcription factors have the ability to form multiple dimer combinations. This property, together with limited DNA-binding specificity for the E box (CANNTG), makes them ideally suited for combinatorial control of gene expression. We tested the ability of all nine Saccharomyces cerevisiae bHLH proteins to regulate the enolase-encoding gene ENO1. ENO1 was known to be activated by the bHLH protein Sgc1p. Here we show that expression of an ENO1-lacZ reporter was also regulated by the other eight bHLH proteins, namely, Ino2p, Ino4p, Cbf1p, Rtg1p, Rtg3p, Pho4p, Hms1p, and Ygr290wp. ENO1-lacZ expression was also repressed by growth in inositol-choline-containing medium. Epistatic analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that regulation by Sgc1p, Ino2p, Ino4p, and Cbf1p and repression by inositol-choline required three distal E boxes, E1, E2, and E3. The pattern of bHLH binding to the three E boxes and experiments with two dominant-negative mutant alleles of INO4 and INO2 support the model that bHLH dimer selection affects ENO1-lacZ expression. These results support the general model that bHLH proteins can coordinate different biological pathways via multiple mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • E-Box Elements / genetics
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics*
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • ENO1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase