Sequence analysis of a 30 kb DNA segment from yeast chromosome XIV carrying a ribosomal protein gene cluster, the genes encoding a plasma membrane protein and a subunit of replication factor C, and a novel putative serine/threonine protein kinase gene.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 30 kb fragment of chromosome XIV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The sequence revealed the presence of 19 open reading frames (ORFs) longer than 300 bp. NO422 and NO425 correspond to the split ribosomal protein genes encoding S16A and rp28, respectively, NO450 displays a striking similarity with serine/threonine protein kinase genes, in particular with STE20, and therefore may encode a novel member of this protein family. NO453 is the longest ORF in this DNA segment, having a size of 4908 bp, but its function is not yet known. NO530 encodes the plasma membrane protein Mid1p and NO533 corresponds to the gene coding for a 40 kDa subunit of replication factor C. The remaining ORFs show weak or no homology with proteins in the data bases.

Mutational analysis of the upstream activation site of yeast ribosomal protein genes.

Most ribosomal protein (rp-)genes in yeast are preceded by conserved sequence motifs that act as upstream transcription-activating sites (RPG box). These sequence elements have previously been shown to represent specific binding sites for a protein factor, TUF. Comparison of the various nucleotide elements identified so far indicates a remarkably high degree of variation in the respective sequences. On the other hand, a methylation interference study performed with one RPG box revealed close contact points with the TUF protein along the entire sequence. To investigate the sequence requirements of the RPG box, we inserted synthetic oligonucleotides that differed from the general consensus sequence ACACCCATACATTT at single positions into a deletion mutant of the L25 promoter that lacked its natural RPG elements. Transcription activity was estimated by Northern analyses of the cellular level of L25-galK hybrid transcripts. The results show that in the 3' part of this sequence element single substitutions are allowed at all positions, in the 5' part, however, the nucleotide requirements appear to be more stringent. In particular, the invariant C at position 5 of the consensus sequence is absolutely necessary for its enhancer function.