9317062 Hoopes Although it is known that the concentration of the general transcription factors are important to gene expression in vivo, very little is known about the expression of the yeast SUA7 gene, which codes for the TFIIB protein of yeast. Using gene fusions and primer extension assays to assess promoter activity, we will examine the regulation of SUA7 under a variety of conditions. This study promises to provide interesting information both on eukaryotic promoter structure and on the effect of the general transcription factors on promoter activity. %%% Cellular regulation often involves the control of RNA synthesis from the DNA template. This type of regulation is essential to maintaining the normal cell state, and understanding gene regulation is important to advances in both medical science and biotechnology. Although we know much about the signals in the DNA that control gene expression, we know less about the regulation of the expression of the molecules (transcription factors) that interact with the DNA. Using yeast as an experimental system, I propose to examine the regulation of a particular transcription factor required for gene expression. This research will contribute to our understanding of mechanisms of gene regulation in higher organisms. ***
