Open AccessThe zinc finger protein G sf1 regulates G sf2‐dependent flocculation in fission yeast
Author(s) -
Matsuzawa Tomohiko,
Kageyama Youko,
Ooishi Kazuyoshi,
Kawamukai Makoto,
Takegawa Kaoru
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/1567-1364.12029
Subject(s) - mutant , biology , yeast , regulator , zinc finger , flocculation , saccharomyces cerevisiae , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , nonsense mutation , gene , transcription (linguistics) , mutation , genetics , chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , missense mutation
Fission yeast flocculates nonsexually by induction of the flocculin encoded by gsf2 + which is controlled by the positive regulator M bx2. Here, we report a novel gene designated gsf1 + found to be a negative regulator of nonsexual flocculation. We identified gsf1 + as a multicopy suppressor of a sam2 mutation, which caused growth sensitivity to C a 2+ and also found a nonsense mutation in gsf1 + in a previously isolated gsf1 mutant. The gsf1 + gene encodes a 547‐aa protein containing a Z n(2)‐ C ys(6) binuclear cluster‐type zinc finger motif. The G sf1 protein localized in the nucleus, consistent with a role as a transcription factor. Deletion of gsf1 + resulted in nonsexual flocculation inducible by C a C l 2 , which was suppressed by the addition of EDTA or galactose. Both gsf2 + and mbx2 + were highly expressed in the gsf1 mutant. gsf1∆ gsf2∆ and gsf1∆ mbx2∆ double mutants did not flocculate, suggesting that gsf1 + is an upstream regulator. In addition, the gsf1 mutant was sensitive to C a C l 2 , KC l, HU , and TBZ , consistent with the possibility that gsf1 + plays a role in functions unrelated to flocculation. Taken together, these results suggest that nonsexual flocculation in fission yeast is negatively controlled by G sf1, which controls expression of mbx2 + and gsf2 + .