Efficient expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycolytic gene ADH1 is dependent upon a cis-acting regulatory element (UASRPG) found initially in genes encoding ribosomal proteins.

The glycolytic form of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADHI) is encoded by the ADH1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that efficient expression of the ADH1 gene requires a sequence between bp -635 and -615 with respect to the +1 mRNA start point; removal of this sequence reduced ADH1 mRNA levels 25-fold but did not affect carbon-source regulation. DNaseI footprinting analysis of the ADH1 promoter revealed the specific protection of a perfect match to UASRPG at -630 to -615. UASRPG is thought to be responsible for activation of transcription, via binding of the translation upstream factor (TUF), of genes encoding components of the translational apparatus. In band retardation assays, the promoters for the elongation factor 1 alpha-encoding genes (TEF1 and TEF2) competed for binding of the protein to the copy of UASRPG in the ADH1 promoter. We conclude that TUF is probably involved in activation of the bulk of ADH1 transcription. Further, we propose that TUF has a role in the activation of many or most glycolytic genes. If so, it is essential for efficient expression of a wide variety of functionally disparate products that are required by yeast cells for rapid growth.