Molecular cloning of the SUF2 frameshift suppressor gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A genetic approach to the molecular cloning of frameshift suppressor genes from yeast is described. These suppressors act by suppressing +1 G:C base-pair insertion mutations in glycine or proline codons. The cloning regimen involves an indirect screen for yeast transformants which harbor a functional suppressor gene inserted into the autonomously replicating “shuttle” vector YEp13, followed by transfer of the hybrid plasmid from yeast into Escherichia coli. Using this procedure a 10.7-kb DNA fragment carrying the SUF2 frameshift suppressor gene has been isolated. This suppressor acts specifically on +1 G:C insertions in proline codons. When inserted into an integrative vehicle and reintroduced into yeast by transformation, this fragment integrates by homologous recombination in the region of the SUF2 locus on chromosome III. A large proportion of the fragment overlaps with another cloned DNA segment which carries the closely linked CDC10 gene. The SUF2 fragment carries at least two tRNA genes. The SUF2 gene and one of the tRNA genes are located on a 0.85-kb restriction fragment within the 10.7-kb segment. A method is also described for the isolation of DNA fragments carrying alternative alleles of the SUF2 locus. Using this procedure, the wild-type suf2⁺ allele has been cloned.