The SNQ3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers hyper-resistance to several functionally unrelated chemicals.

A multi-copy plasmid containing the SNQ3 gene confers hyper-resistance to 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO), Trenimon, MNNG, cycloheximide, and to sulfometuron methyl in yeast transformants. Restriction analysis, subcloning, and DNA sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 1,950 bp on the SNQ3-containing insert DNA. Gene disruption and transplacement into chromosomal DNA yielded 4NQO-sensitive null mutants which were also more sensitive than the wild-type to Trenimon, cycloheximide, sulfometuron methyl, and MNNG. Hydropathic analysis showed that the SNQ3-encoded protein is most likely not membrane-bound, while the codon bias index points to low expression of the gene.