Inhibition of TATA-binding protein function by SAGA subunits Spt3 and Spt8 at Gcn4-activated promoters.

SAGA is a 1.8-MDa yeast protein complex that is composed of several distinct classes of transcription-related factors, including the adaptor/acetyltransferase Gcn5, Spt proteins, and a subset of TBP-associated factors. Our results indicate that mutations that completely disrupt SAGA (deletions of SPT7 or SPT20) strongly reduce transcriptional activation at the HIS3 and TRP3 genes and that Gcn5 is required for normal HIS3 transcriptional start site selection. Surprisingly, mutations in Spt proteins involved in the SAGA-TBP interaction (Spt3 and Spt8) cause derepression of HIS3 and TRP3 transcription in the uninduced state. Consistent with this finding, wild-type SAGA inhibits TBP binding to the HIS3 promoter in vitro, while SAGA lacking Spt3 or Spt8 is not inhibitory. We detected two distinct forms of SAGA in cell extracts and, strikingly, one lacks Spt8. Conditions that induce HIS3 and TRP3 transcription result in an altered balance between these complexes strongly in favor of the form without Spt8. These results suggest that the composition of SAGA may be dynamic in vivo and may be regulated through dissociable inhibitory subunits.

Functional organization of the yeast SAGA complex: distinct components involved in structural integrity, nucleosome acetylation, and TATA-binding protein interaction.

SAGA, a recently described protein complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is important for transcription in vivo and possesses histone acetylation function. Here we report both biochemical and genetic analyses of members of three classes of transcription regulatory factors contained within the SAGA complex. We demonstrate a correlation between the phenotypic severity of SAGA mutants and SAGA structural integrity. Specifically, null mutations in the Gcn5/Ada2/Ada3 or Spt3/Spt8 classes cause moderate phenotypes and subtle structural alterations, while mutations in a third subgroup, Spt7/Spt20, as well as Ada1, disrupt the complex and cause severe phenotypes. Interestingly, double mutants (gcn5Delta spt3Delta and gcn5Delta spt8Delta) causing loss of a member of each of the moderate classes have severe phenotypes, similar to spt7Delta, spt20Delta, or ada1Delta mutants. In addition, we have investigated biochemical functions suggested by the moderate phenotypic classes and find that first, normal nucleosomal acetylation by SAGA requires a specific domain of Gcn5, termed the bromodomain. Deletion of this domain also causes specific transcriptional defects at the HIS3 promoter in vivo. Second, SAGA interacts with TBP, the TATA-binding protein, and this interaction requires Spt8 in vitro. Overall, our data demonstrate that SAGA harbors multiple, distinct transcription-related functions, including direct TBP interaction and nucleosomal histone acetylation. Loss of either of these causes slight impairment in vivo, but loss of both is highly detrimental to growth and transcription.

Interplay between chromatin modifying and remodeling complexes in transcriptional regulation.

The question of a possible functional relationship between different chromatin-altering enzymatic activities is of great interest. Several remarkable parallels have been revealed regarding the action of the remodeling complex SWI/SNF and the histone acetylation complex SAGA during transcriptional activation in S. cerevisiae. Many promoters, but not all, that require one complex require the other as well. Mutations that disrupt both complexes cause much more severe phenotypes than single mutations. Both types of complexes are recruited to specific promoters by interaction with DNA-bound acidic activators, resulting in targeted acetylation and transcriptional activation. Taken together the data argue for independent mechanisms, but similar recruitment and functional interplay between these two types of chromatin-altering activities.

Proportion of the GSTM1 0/0 genotype in some Slavic populations and its correlation with cystic fibrosis and some multifactorial diseases.

A homozygous gene deletion at the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) locus of genomic DNA from blood spots was studied by PCR in the group of Slavic populations from the north-western and central-eastern regions of European Russia and in patients with lung cancer (LC), other tumors (OT), endometriosis (E), alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic bronchitis (CB). The frequencies of the GSTM1 0/0 genotype were 38.8% and 67.5% for both population groups, respectively. The proportion of the GSTM1 gene deletion genotype was estimated as significantly increased in LC (81%), OT (65%), E (81%), AC (77.3%), and in CB (73.6%) patients with symptoms of CB confirmed by X-ray but not in CB patients without X-ray evidence of disease (40.9%). A definite preponderance of GSTM1-0 homozygotes (51.1%) has been registered in CF patients of the pancreatic sufficient group with clear-cut pulmonological manifestations but not in those of the pancreatic insufficient group with predominantly intestinal or mixed clinical symptoms (41.2% and 37.5%, respectively). Earlier clinical manifestations and death before the age of 5 years are typical for GSTM1-deleted CF patients. These data support the notion that GSTM1 deletion should be considered as a convenient genetic marker for the early detection of groups at higher risk of many diseases caused by environmental and genetic factors, where manifestation depends on the lack of detoxification. High levels of GSTM1 0/0 genotypes in E patients favor the substantial contribution of certain environmental toxins in the pathogenesis of this widespread disease.