Transcription of two long noncoding RNAs mediates mating-type control of gametogenesis in budding yeast

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transcription of two long noncoding RNAs mediates mating-type control of gametogenesis in budding yeast

AU - van Werven, F.J.

AU - Neuert, G.

AU - Hendrick, N.

AU - Lardenois, A.

AU - Buratowski, S.

AU - van Oudenaarden, A.

AU - Primig, M.

AU - Amon, A.

N1 - Reporting year: 2012

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - The cell-fate decision leading to gametogenesis is essential for sexual reproduction. In S. cerevisiae, only diploid MATa/alpha but not haploid MATa or MATalpha cells undergo gametogenesis, known as sporulation. We find that transcription of two long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediates mating-type control of sporulation. In MATa or MATalpha haploids, expression of IME1, the central inducer of gametogenesis, is inhibited in cis by transcription of the lncRNA IRT1, located in the IME1 promoter. IRT1 transcription recruits the Set2 histone methyltransferase and the Set3 histone deacetylase complex to establish repressive chromatin at the IME1 promoter. Inhibiting expression of IRT1 and an antisense transcript that antagonizes the expression of the meiotic regulator IME4 allows cells expressing the haploid mating type to sporulate with kinetics that are indistinguishable from that of MATa/alpha diploids. Conversely, expression of the two lncRNAs abolishes sporulation in MATa/alpha diploids. Thus, transcription of two lncRNAs governs mating-type control of gametogenesis in yeast.

AB - The cell-fate decision leading to gametogenesis is essential for sexual reproduction. In S. cerevisiae, only diploid MATa/alpha but not haploid MATa or MATalpha cells undergo gametogenesis, known as sporulation. We find that transcription of two long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediates mating-type control of sporulation. In MATa or MATalpha haploids, expression of IME1, the central inducer of gametogenesis, is inhibited in cis by transcription of the lncRNA IRT1, located in the IME1 promoter. IRT1 transcription recruits the Set2 histone methyltransferase and the Set3 histone deacetylase complex to establish repressive chromatin at the IME1 promoter. Inhibiting expression of IRT1 and an antisense transcript that antagonizes the expression of the meiotic regulator IME4 allows cells expressing the haploid mating type to sporulate with kinetics that are indistinguishable from that of MATa/alpha diploids. Conversely, expression of the two lncRNAs abolishes sporulation in MATa/alpha diploids. Thus, transcription of two lncRNAs governs mating-type control of gametogenesis in yeast.

U2 - 10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.049

DO - 10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.049

M3 - Article

SN - 0092-8674

VL - 150

SP - 1170

EP - 1181

JO - Cell

JF - Cell

IS - 6

ER -