Multiple transcripts regulate glucose-triggered mRNA decay of the lactate transporter JEN1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae JEN1 gene encoding the lactate transporter undergoes strong catabolic repression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. JEN1 mRNA decay is greatly accelerated upon the addition of a pulse of glucose, fructose or mannose to induced cell cultures. Mapping of the 5′UTRs and 3′UTRs of JEN1 transcripts revealed multiple transcription start-sites located at position −51, +391 or +972, depending on the cell culture conditions. The presence of the JEN1(+391) transcript correlated with rapid glucose-triggered mRNA degradation of the JEN1(−51) transcript, whereas when the small transcript started at position +972, the JEN1(−51) mRNA turnover rate was unaffected. Overexpressed JEN1(+391) transcript accelerated JEN1(−51) mRNA decay in all conditions tested but was not translated. We propose that the JEN1(+391) transcript may have a “sensor-like” function, regulating glucose-triggered degradation of JEN1(−51) protein-coding mRNA.