Expression of yeast lipid phosphatase Sac1p is regulated by phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate

Background: Phosphoinositides play a central role in regulating processes at intracellular membranes. In yeast, a large number of phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes use a common mechanism for transcriptional regulation. Yet, how the expression of genes encoding lipid kinases and phosphatases is regulated remains unknown. Results: Here we show that the expression of lipid phosphatase Sac1p in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated in response to changes in phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI(4)P) concentrations. Unlike genes encoding enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, expression of the SAC1 gene is independent of inositol levels. We identified a novel 9-bp motif within the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) of SAC1 that is responsible for PI(4)P-mediated regulation. Upregulation of SAC1 promoter activity correlates with elevated levels of Sac1 protein levels. Conclusion: Regulation of Sac1p expression via the concentration of its major substrate PI(4)P ensures proper maintenance of compartment-specific pools of PI(4)P.