Nrg1 functions as a global transcriptional repressor of glucose-repressed genes through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions

Nrg1 is a zinc finger protein involved in the glucose repression of several glucose-repressed genes such as STA1, SUC2, and GAL1. Although the molecular details of the Nrg1-mediated repression of STA1 have been partly characterized, it still remains largely unknown how Nrg1 regulates these multiple target genes. In this study, we show that Nrg1 mediates the glucose repression of SUC2 and HXT2 through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions; it binds to the −404 to −360 region of the SUC2 promoter and the −957 to −810 region of the HXT2 promoter. Nrg1 also interacts with the −380 to −250 region of the PCK1 promoter, suggesting that it might also contribute to the PCK1 repression. In addition, ChIP assays confirmed that Nrg1 associated with specific promoter regions of these glucose-repressed genes in vivo. Analysis of the DNA fragments to which it binds indicates that Nrg1 may recognize T/ACCCC sequence within the promoters of these glucose-repressed genes as well as in its own promoter. Collectively, our findings indicate that Nrg1 mediates the glucose repression of multiple genes through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions.     

Biochemical evidence for glucose-independent induction of HXT expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast glucose sensors Rgt2 and Snf3 generate a signal in response to glucose that leads to degradation of Mth1 and Std1, thereby relieving repression of Rgt1-repressed genes such as the glucose transporter genes (HXT). Mth1 and Std1 are degraded via the Yck1/2 kinase-SCF(Grr1)-26S proteasome pathway triggered by the glucose sensors. Here, we show that RGT2-1 promotes ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of Mth1 and Std1 regardless of the presence of glucose. Site-specific mutagenesis reveals that the conserved lysine residues of Mth1 and Std1 might serve as attachment sites for ubiquitin, and that the potential casein kinase (Yck1/2) sites of serine phosphorylation might control their ubiquitination. Finally, we show that active Snf1 protein kinase in high glucose prevents degradation of Mth1 and Std1.     

Mth1 receives the signal given by the glucose sensors Snf3 and Rgt2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have determined that the mutant genes DGT1-1 and BPC1-1, which impair glucose transport and catabolite repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are allelic forms of MTH1. Deletion of MTH1 had only slight effects on the expression of HXT1 or SNF3, but increased expression of HXT2 in the absence of glucose. A two-hybrid screen revealed that the Mth1 protein interacts with the cytoplasmic tails of the glucose sensors Snf3 and Rgt2. This interaction was affected by mutations in Mth1 and by the concentration of glucose in the medium. A double mutant, snf3 rgt2, recovered sensitivity to glucose when MTH1 was deleted, thus showing that glucose signalling may occur independently of Snf3 and Rgt2. A model for the possible mode of action of Snf3 and Rgt2 is presented.