Title: | The pat1 protein kinase controls transcription of the mating-type genes in fission yeast |
Address: | "Institute of Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark" |
DOI: | 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1990.tb08255.x |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0261-4189 (Print) 1460-2075 (Electronic) 0261-4189 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The developmental programme of fission yeast brings about a transition from mitotic cell division to the dormant state of ascospores. In response to nitrogen starvation, two cells of opposite mating type conjugate to form a diploid zygote, which then undergoes meiosis and sporulation. This differentiation process is characterized by a transcriptional induction of the mating-type genes. Conjugation can also be induced in pat1-ts mutants by a shift to a semi-permissive temperature. The pat1 gene encodes a protein kinase, which also functions further downstream in the developmental pathway controlling entry into meiosis. We have analysed transcriptional induction of mating-type genes in various strains--with and without a pat1-ts allele. In wild-type cells of P-mating type derepression occurs in two rounds. First, the mat1-Pc gene is induced in response to nitrogen starvation. Mutants in the map1 gene are defective in this process. In the following step the mat1-Pm gene is expressed in response to a pheromone signal generated by cells of M mating type. Both these controls are derepressed in the pat1-ts mutant at semipermissive temperature. Previous work has established that expression of the mating-type genes in the zygote leads to complete loss of pat1 protein kinase activity causing entry into meiosis. Thus, pat1 can promote its own inactivation. We suggest a model according to which a stepwise inactivation of pat1 leads to sequential derepression of the processes of conjugation and meiosis" |
Keywords: | "Conjugation, Genetic/genetics Fungal Proteins/*genetics Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics Genes, Fungal/*physiology *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Meiosis/genetics Models, Biological Protein Kinases/genetics/*physiology Repressor Proteins/genetics/;" |
Notes: | "MedlineNielsen, O Egel, R eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 1990/05/01 EMBO J. 1990 May; 9(5):1401-6. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1990.tb08255.x" |