High impact information on UGA1

• Inducer-independent expression was observed for the allantoin pathway genes DAL7 and DUR1,2, as well as the UGA1 gene required for gamma-aminobutyrate catabolism in the disruption mutant [1].
• The data presented show it to be required for utilization of 4-aminobutyrate as a nitrogen source and for 4-aminobutyrate-induced increases in the steady-state levels of UGA1 mRNA [2].
• The role of Gln3p is less predominant in UGA1 than in UGA4 gene expression [3].
• Nucleotide sequence of the yeast UGA1 gene encoding GABA transaminase [4].
• The expression of all these genes, with the exception of UGA1 and PUT2, also required a functional GLN3 protein [5].

Biological context of UGA1

• Analysis of the 5' region of the UGA1 and UGA4 genes led to the identification of a conserved GC-rich sequence (UASGABA) essential to induction by gamma-aminobutyrate [3].
• While the ugatA gene under the control of the A. nidulans gatA promoter was able to fully complement a gatA- phenotype in A. nidulans, the full-length ugatA gene was not, suggesting a lack of expression from the U. maydis promoter in A. nidulans [6].
• It is likely that upon duplication approximately 200 million years ago, a specialized Uga1p evolved into a 'novel' transaminase enzyme with broader substrate specificity [7].

Associations of UGA1 with chemical compounds

• The fact that L-norleucine-leucine aminotransferase, 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase and delta-aminovalerate aminotransferase are strongly induced by growing the yeast Candida on L-lysine suggests new hypothetic pathways for the catabolism of L-lysine where the main substrate of each aminotransferase could be an intermediary metabolite [8].

Other interactions of UGA1

• Some of them simultaneously control the expression of the UGA1 and UGA2 genes [9].
• Measurements of UGA1-specific transcripts show that induction of UGA1 correlates with accumulation of its RNA and requires a functional UGA3 gene [10].

References