TY - JOUR

T1 - Analysis of the structural genes encoding M-factor in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe: identification of a third gene, mfm3

AU - Kjaerulff, S

AU - Davey, William John

AU - Nielsen, O

AU - Nielsen, Olaf

PY - 1994/6/1

Y1 - 1994/6/1

N2 - We previously identified two genes, mfm1 and mfm2, with the potential to encode the M-factor mating pheromone of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (J. Davey, EMBO J. 11:951-960, 1992), but further analysis revealed that a mutant strain lacking both genes still produced active M-factor. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a third M-factor gene, mfm3. A mutant lacking all three genes fails to produce M-factor, indicating that all functional M-factor genes now have been identified. The triple mutant exhibits an absolute mating defect in M cells, a defect that is not rescued by addition of exogenous M-factor. A mutational analysis reveals that all three mfm genes contribute to the production of M-factor. Their transcription is limited to M cells and requires the mat1-Mc and ste11 gene products. Each gene is induced when the cells are starved of nitrogen and further induced by a pheromone signal. Additionally, the signal transduction machinery associated with the pheromone response is required for transcription of the mfm genes in both stimulated and unstimulated cells.

AB - We previously identified two genes, mfm1 and mfm2, with the potential to encode the M-factor mating pheromone of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (J. Davey, EMBO J. 11:951-960, 1992), but further analysis revealed that a mutant strain lacking both genes still produced active M-factor. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a third M-factor gene, mfm3. A mutant lacking all three genes fails to produce M-factor, indicating that all functional M-factor genes now have been identified. The triple mutant exhibits an absolute mating defect in M cells, a defect that is not rescued by addition of exogenous M-factor. A mutational analysis reveals that all three mfm genes contribute to the production of M-factor. Their transcription is limited to M cells and requires the mat1-Mc and ste11 gene products. Each gene is induced when the cells are starved of nitrogen and further induced by a pheromone signal. Additionally, the signal transduction machinery associated with the pheromone response is required for transcription of the mfm genes in both stimulated and unstimulated cells.

KW - Amino Acid Sequence

KW - Base Sequence

KW - Cloning, Molecular

KW - Conserved Sequence

KW - DNA Primers

KW - Genes, Fungal

KW - Molecular Sequence Data

KW - Mutagenesis

KW - Open Reading Frames

KW - Peptide Biosynthesis

KW - Peptides

KW - Pheromones

KW - Polymerase Chain Reaction

KW - Restriction Mapping

KW - Schizosaccharomyces

KW - Sequence Deletion

KW - Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

KW - Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

KW - Transcription, Genetic

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8196631

VL - 14

SP - 3895

EP - 3905

JO - Molecular and Cellular Biology

JF - Molecular and Cellular Biology

SN - 0270-7306

IS - 6

ER -