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. 1987 Mar;6(3):729–736. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb04814.x

The product of the mei3+ gene, expressed under control of the mating-type locus, induces meiosis and sporulation in fission yeast.

M McLeod, M Stein, D Beach
PMCID: PMC553457  PMID: 3034608

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+.

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