Sporulation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is accompanied by synthesis of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate and adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate.
Two-dimensional TLC analysis of 32P-labeled nucleotides extracted from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals that two highly phosphorylated nucleotides are synthesized during sporulation. These nucleotides have been identified as adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (ppppA) and adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate (pppppA). The synthesis of ppppA and pppppA commences late in sporulation and follows formation of ascospores. The maximum concentration of ppppA and pppppA in sporulating yeast cultures was 2% and 1.5%, respectively, that of ATP. Adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate and 5'-pentaphosphate are unique to this stage of yeast development and are absent in vegetative yeast cells. Since these nucleotides are also absent in asporogenous a/a and alpha/alpha cells, it is reasonable to propose that they are signal nucleotides marking one of the stages of yeast development--i.e., ascospore formation.
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000502:physiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D013997:Time Factors
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; C017991:adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate; C048567:adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate