title: The yeast STE12 product is required for expression of two sets of cell-type specific genes.
abstract: Yeast alpha and a cells transcribe distinct sets of genes involved in mating behavior, alpha-specific genes and a-specific genes, respectively. The alpha 1 product of the alpha mating type locus (MAT alpha) has been the only known activator of either set of genes; it is required for synthesis of RNA from the alpha-specific genes, one of which is the major alpha-factor gene. By screening for mutants that are no longer able to express this gene, we have identified the STE12 gene product as another positive regulator of the alpha-factor gene. alpha ste12 cells are also defective in RNA production from the other known alpha-specific genes. Moreover, a ste12 cells fail to produce wild-type levels of RNA from the a-specific genes. The STE12 gene product is therefore an activator of two sets of genes involved in yeast cell type specialization.
mesh_terms: D005796:Genes; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D000072235:Mating Factor; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D010675:Pheromones; D000072235:Mating Factor; D001616:beta-Galactosidase