Open AccessNegative control for the initiation of meiosis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Author(s) -
Yuichi Iino,
Masayuki Yamamoto
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.82.8.2447
Subject(s) - schizosaccharomyces pombe , meiosis , homologous recombination , biology , genetics , mutant , schizosaccharomyces , genetic recombination , gene , ploidy , chromosome segregation , chromosomal crossover , chromosome , microbiology and biotechnology , recombination
Temperature-sensitive mutants of thepat1 gene ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe are able to produce poorly viable spores from the haploid state without the requirement for nitrogen starvation if exposed to the restrictive temperature. Three lines of evidence strongly suggest that this gene codes for a factor whose physiological role is inhibition of initiation of meiosis. First,pat1 haploids arrested in G1 phase undergo apparent premeiotic DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature. Second, thepat1 gene was found to exert its function at a specified stage of the meiotic pathway by comparison with other meiotic mutants. Third, meiotic recombination and chromosome segregation take place quite normally inpat1 diploids at the restrictive temperature, resulting in the production of highly viable spores. A negative control mechanism for meiosis is proposed.