High impact information on AFT2

• Some of the AFT2-regulated genes are known to be regulated by Aft1p; however, AFT2-1(up)-dependent activation was independent of Aft1p [1].
• A mutant allele of AFT2 (AFT2-1(up)), or overexpression of the wild-type AFT2 gene, led to partial complementation of the respiratory-deficient phenotype of the aft1Delta strain [1].
• The kinetics of induction of two genes activated by the AFT2-1(up) allele are consistent with Aft2p acting as a direct transcriptional factor [1].
• Aft2 is activated at a later time in Atm1-depleted cells [2].
• Two transcriptional activators, Aft1 and Aft2, regulate iron homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [2].

Biological context of AFT2

• The yeast genome contains a paralog of AFT1, which has been designated AFT2 [1].
• This study compares the functions of Aft1 and Aft2 in regulating the transcription of genes involved in iron homeostasis, with reference to the presence/absence of the paralog [3].
• These results suggest that Aft2p and Aft1p have overlapping roles in the control of iron-regulated pathway(s) connected to oxidative stress resistance in yeast [4].
• Truncated forms of Aft1p and Aft2p bound to a DNA duplex containing the Aft1p binding site in vitro [1].
• Although Aft1 and Aft2 sense a signal emanating from the Fe-S cluster biogenesis pathway, there is no indication that the proteins are inhibited by direct binding of an Fe-S cluster [2].

Other interactions of AFT2

• Overproduction of Aft2p activates the transcription of the AFT1 target gene FET3 [4].
• In addition, both proteins regulate MRS4 via a variant FeRE with Aft2p being the stronger activator from this particular element [5].
• Thus, iron sensing by Aft1/Aft2 is not linked to the maturation of cytosolic/nuclear Fe-S proteins, but the mitochondrial inner membrane transporter Atm1 is important to transport the inhibitory signal [2].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of AFT2

• DNA microarrays were used to identify genes regulated by AFT2 [1].

References