Distinct upstream activation regions for glucose-repressed and derepressed expression of the yeast citrate synthase gene CIT1.

The yeast CIT1 (mitochondrial citrate synthase) gene is subject to glucose repression and is further repressed by glucose plus glutamate. Based on deletion analysis of a CIT1-lacZ gene fusion, DNA sequences between -548 and -273 are required for full expression of CIT1. The region of transcription initiation and the putative TATA element are located at -150 to -100 and -195 respectively. A restriction fragment containing DNA sequences between -457 and -211 conferred activation and glucose-glutamate regulation when placed in either orientation upstream of a UAS-less heterologous yeast gene. Deletion of DNA sequences between -291 and -273 specifically eliminated derepression of CIT1, and destroyed one of two closely-spaced, potential binding sites for the HAP2,3,4 transcriptional activator protein. Ten-base-pair block substitutions in the region -367 to -348 reduced glucose-repressed expression. Thus, it appears that distinct DNA sequences upstream of CIT1 activate expression in glucose-repressed and derepressed cells. Possible mechanisms of regulation by glutamate plus glucose, are discussed.