UAS (Upstream Activating Sequence)

An Upstream Activating Sequence (UAS) is a regulatory DNA element found in yeast and other organisms that helps control gene expression. It acts like a switch, responding to signals that tell the cell when to turn a specific gene on or off. The UAS is located upstream, or before, the gene it regulates, and it binds proteins that facilitate the process of transcription, where DNA is converted into RNA. Essentially, the UAS plays a crucial role in determining when and how much of a protein is made, influencing various cellular functions and responses.