Mechanisms for signal transduction of meiotic pheromone in yeast

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Diploid cells of the yeast S.cerevisiae with mating type a/alpha differentiate into meiosis when starved for nutrients. In this study, we demonstrated that social communication via meiotic pheromone (MEP) is essential for the differentiation.1. We obtained 4,000 mutant clones which do not express ime2-lacZ.From the mutant clones, 5 clones expressed the ime2-lacZ when crossed with wild-type cells. These mutants were considered to have defects especially in MEP production.2. Five mutant clones were found to have mutations in the same locus, socl (social communication). Homozygous socl diploids did not develop into meiosis, suggesting the essential role for MEP in meiosis.3. We further obtained regulatory genes (SOC2, SOC3, and SOC4) for MEP production by screening suppressor mutations of the socl-2.4. The SOC2-4 genes encode proteins regulating TCA cycle, suggesting that MEP is an organic acid.