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The product of the mei3+ gene, expressed under control of the mating‐type locus, induces meiosis and sporulation in fission yeast.
Author(s) -
McLeod M.,
Stein M.,
Beach D.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb04814.x
Subject(s) - meiosis , biology , mating type , locus (genetics) , genetics , mating of yeast , gene , gene product , gene expression
In fission yeast the ability to undergo meiosis and sporulation is conferred by the matP+ and matM+ genes of the mating‐type locus. Inactivation of ran1+, a negative regulator of meiosis, is thought to be an essential step in meiotic initiation. We have isolated a further meiotic control gene mei3+, and have shown the following: a null allele of mei3 totally inhibits meiosis; the mei3+ RNA transcript and its translational product are expressed only in matP+/matM+ diploids entering meiosis; forced expression of mei3+ in vegetative cells provokes haploid meiosis and sporulation. We suggest that the product of mei3+ gene, a protein of 21 kd, initiates meiosis by inactivating ran1+.