Upstream Regions of the Yeast Glucoamylase Gene Which Are Required for Efficient Transcription

Abstract

Deletion analysis was used to identify sequences upstream of the STA1 gene of Saccharomyces diastaticus that are required for its expression. Our analysis revealed that STA1 has at least three upstream activation sequences (UAS): UAS1 and UAS2–2 were required for full transcriptional activity, while deletions removing UAS2–1 were still transcribed but the transcripts failed to be translated. These sequences contained both A + T-rich and inverted repeat sequences that might serve as components of the upstream activation sites. We also showed that either deletion of a TATA homologue or insertion of palindromic DNA within the region between the TATA box and the mRNA start sites had no effect on the level of STA1 transcription but the transcripts failed to initiate properly.