An androgen-inducible expression system for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A novel controllable expression system for Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been developed. Expression of the gene encoding the human androgen receptor, from a strong yeast promoter, results in transactivation of a hybrid promoter carrying androgen-responsive sequences such that a target gene may be expressed in an androgen-dependent manner. By selection of an appropriate combination of androgen receptor level, target-gene copy number and concentration of the androgenic ligand, dihydrotestosterone, the expression level can be set within a 1400-fold range with no detectable effect on normal cell growth.