Coordinate control of gene expression noise and interchromosomal interactions in a MAP kinase pathway

Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Oct;12(10):954-62. doi: 10.1038/ncb2097. Epub 2010 Sep 19.

Abstract

In the Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone-response pathway, the transcription factor Ste12 is inhibited by two mitogen-activated protein (MAP)-kinase-responsive regulators, Dig1 and Dig2. These two related proteins bind to distinct regions of Ste12 but are redundant in their inhibition of Ste12-dependent gene expression. Here we describe three functions for Dig1 that are non-redundant with those of Dig2. First, the removal of Dig1 results in a specific increase in intrinsic and extrinsic noise in the transcriptional outputs of the mating pathway. Second, in dig1Δ cells, Ste12 relocalizes from the nucleoplasmic distribution seen in wild-type cells into discrete subnuclear foci. Third, genome-wide insertional chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed that Ste12-dependent genes have increased interchromosomal interactions in dig1Δ cells. These findings suggest that the regulation of gene expression through long-range gene interactions, a widely observed phenomenon, comes at the cost of increased noise. Consequently, cells may have evolved mechanisms to suppress noise by controlling these interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Fungal / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DIG1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DIG2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • STE12 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases