A de novo originated gene depresses budding yeast mating pathway and is repressed by the protein encoded by its antisense strand

Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, genetic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker's yeast in rich medium by binding MAT alpha 2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several important issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.

This work was funded by grants awarded to S. Zhang under the Key Construction Program of the National "985" Project and "211" Project. J. Flanders was supported by a Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Fellowship (UK). We thank Mr. Junpeng Zhang, Dr. Libiao Zhang, Dr. Guangjian Zhu, Dr. Jinshuo Zhang, Dr. Xiuguang Mao and Dr. Li Wei for their assistance in the field. We would also like to thank Dr. Xiangdong Tang and his wife for technological support. Finally, we thank Dr. Byron Shen the DSI Company equipment.