Cohesin Plays a Dual Role in Gene Regulation and Sister-Chromatid Cohesion During Meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

摘要

Sister-chromatid cohesion mediated by cohesin ensures proper chromosome segregation during cell division. Cohesin is also required for postreplicative DNA double-strand break repair and gene expression. The molecular mechanisms of these diverse cohesin functions remain to be elucidated. Here we report that the cohesin subunits and are both required for the production of the meiosis-specific subunit in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using a genetic approach, we depleted and independently in cells that were undergoing meiosis. Both - and -depleted cells were inducible for meiosis, but the promoter was only marginally activated, leading to reduced levels of transcription and protein production. In contrast, the expression of , the mitotic counterpart of , was not subject to regulation in vegetative cells. We provide genetic evidence to show that sister-chromatid cohesion is not necessary for activation of gene expression. Cohesin appears to positively regulate the expression of a variety of genes during yeast meiosis. Our results suggest that the cohesin complex plays a dual role in gene regulation and sister-chromatid cohesion during meiotic differentiation in yeast.