Modifiers of ochre suppressors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that exhibit ochre suppressor-dependent amber suppression

Summary

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were selected that would interact with ochre (UAA) suppressors so as to allow ochre -suppressor dependant amber (UAG) suppression, but which do not exhibit opal (UGA) suppression. Strains mutant at four distinct loci were isolated, and two of these are recessive mutations while the other two behave as dominants or semidominants. MOS3 has some suppressor activity in the absence of a resident SUP4-o gene and shares other characteristics with previously described omnipotent suppressors. MOS4, mos1 and mos2, on the other hand, exhibit no suppressor activity in the absence of a resident SUP4-o gene but do exhibit suppression of UAG alleles when there is a resident SUP4-o gene. These latter modifier strains do not interact with a SUP4-o gene to suppress UGA alleles. By genetic and physiological criteria the MOS4, mosl, and most mutations appear to be different than previously described allosuppressors or modifiers of suppression.