title: The product of the mei3+ gene, expressed under control of the mating-type locus, induces meiosis and sporulation in fission yeast.
abstract: 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+.
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D000072235:Mating Factor; D008540:Meiosis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D004718:Saccharomycetales / Q000235:genetics*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; C116305:MEI3 protein, S pombe; D010455:Peptides; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D000072235:Mating Factor; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes