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. 1992 May;131(1):65–72. doi: 10.1093/genetics/131.1.65

Selection for Early Meiotic Mutants in Yeast

A P Mitchell 1, K S Bowdish 1
PMCID: PMC1204965  PMID: 1592244

Abstract

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, only a/α cells can enter meiosis; a and α cells cannot. Because a/α cells are typically diploid and a and α cells are typically haploid, this cell type restriction ensures that only diploid cells enter meiosis. Entry into meiosis is accompanied by an increase in expression of the IME1 gene; the IME1 product (IME1) then activates IME2 and other meiotic genes. We have found that IME1 expression is toxic to starved haploid cells, presumably because IME1 directs them into meiosis. IME1 toxicity is greater in rad52 mutants, in which meiotic recombination causes lethal damage. Suppressors of IME1 toxicity include recessive mutations in two genes, RIM11 and RIM16 (Regulator of Inducer of Meiosis), that are required for IME1 to activate IME2 expression. RIM11 maps near CIN4 on chromosome XIII.

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Selected References

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