Investigating regulation of gene transcription by the Tup1-Ssn6 co-repressor complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Transcriptional repression is an important part of gene regulation. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the Tup1-Ssn6 corepressof complex is recruited to gene promoters to repress transcription in response to nutrient depiction, DNA damage and numerous other signals. One gene under transcriptional control of Tup1-Ssn6 is FL01, which encodes a lectin-like cell wall protein known as a flocculin. FL01 Is a model for gene regulation in the context of chromatin. The current model for Tup1-Ssn6-mediated repression dictates that Tup1p promotes repression, while Ssn6p acts as an adaptor between Tup1 and the target gene. The aim of this project is to (i) elucidate the contribution of the Tup1p and Ssn6p subunits of the complex to gene repression, and (ii). Investigate Tupl-SsnS activity In the context of FLO1 gene regulation. The results will help elucidate the precise mechanism of action of gene repression by the evolutionary conserved Tup1p-Ssn6p corepressor complex.