A regulatory element in the CHA1 promoter which confers inducibility by serine and threonine on Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes.

CHA1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the gene for the catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) dehydratase, which is responsible for biodegradation of serine and threonine. We have previously shown that expression of the CHA1 gene is transcriptionally induced by serine and threonine. Northern (RNA) analysis showed that the additional presence of good nitrogen sources affects induction. This may well be due to inducer exclusion. To identify interactions of cis-acting elements with trans activators of the CHA1 promoter, we performed band shift assays of nuclear protein extracts with CHA1 promoter fragments. By this approach, we identified a protein-binding site of the CHA1 promoter. The footprint of this protein contains the ABF1-binding site consensus sequence. This in vitro binding activity is present irrespectively of CHA1 induction. By deletion analysis, two other elements of the CHA1 promoter, UAS1CHA and UAS2CHA, which are needed for induction of the CHA1 gene were identified. Each of the two sequence elements is sufficient to confer serine and threonine induction upon the CYC1 promoter when substituting its upstream activating sequence. Further, in a cha4 mutant strain which is unable to grow with serine or threonine as the sole nitrogen source, the function of UAS1CHA, as well as that of UAS2CHA, is obstructed.