A negative regulating element controlling transcription of the gene encoding acyl-CoA oxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Peroxisomes are induced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae when this yeast is grown in the presence of oleate, and are repressed when glucose is supplied as the carbon source. Concomitant with this is an induction/repression of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes. We are investigating the transcriptional control of acyl-CoA oxidase, the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the peroxisomal beta-oxidation cycle. The promoter region of POX1 from S. cerevisiae has been analyzed in POX1/lacZ fusions. Expression of the POX1/lacZ fusion protein underwent glucose repression and oleate induction. By deletion, DNA band shift and DNase I footprinting analyses we have identified a region that is involved in transcriptional repression of POX1. Elimination of this DNA sequence results in constitutive expression of POX1 when S. cerevisiae is grown on a fermentable carbon source or glycerol.