URA3

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URA3 encodes orotidine 5-phosphate decarboxylase (ODCase), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of pyrimidine ribonucleotides.

Loss of ODCase activity leads to a lack of cell growth unless uracil or uridine is added to the media (positive selection). In contrast, if 5-FOA is added to the media ODCase can convert into the toxic compound 5-fluorouracil causing death (negative selection).

Since URA3 allows for both positive and negative selection, it has been developed as a genetic marker for DNA transformations and other genetic techniques in bacteria and many fungal species. It is one of the most important genetic markers in yeast genetic modification.

[edit] References

S. cerevisiae database (2005) URA3 gene. http://db.yeastgenome.org/cgi-bin/locus.pl?locus=ura3#summaryParagraph (accessed 16/10/07).

PAUL J. FLYNN AND RICHARD J. REECE. Activation of Transcription by Metabolic Intermediates of the Pyrimidine Biosynthetic Pathway. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY,Vol. 19, No. 1, 882–888