Regulatory Mechanisms of Meiosis in Fission Yeast

我们研究了裂殖酵母减数分裂的调控机制。减数分裂所需的某些mRNAs是转录的，但在营养生长的细胞中会经历被称为“选择性消除”的降解。我们分析了这一机制，并确定了一些相关的分子。识别并结合靶mRNAs上特定六核苷酸基序的关键因子Mmi1蛋白。MeiRNA可以灭活Mmi1以促进减数分裂，它携带大量的六核苷酸基序，并引诱Mmi1。同时，我们发现RNA聚合酶II的C末端结构域(CTD)上的Ser-2残基的磷酸化对于转录启动减数分裂所需的特定基因是必不可少的，并且胁迫响应的MAPK通路参与了这一调节。

We investigated the regulatory mechanisms of meiosis in fission yeast. Certain mRNAs required for meiosis are transcribed but undergo degradation called "selective elimination" in vegetatively growing cells. We analyzed this mechanism and identified a number of molecules involved. A pivotal factor Mmi1 protein recognized and bound to specific hexanucleotide motifs on the target mRNAs. meiRNA, which inactivates Mmi1 to promote meiosis, carried numerous copies of the hexanucleotide motifs and lured Mmi1. Meanwhile, we found that phosphorylation of Ser-2 residues on the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II was essential to transcribe a specific gene required for the initiation of meiosis, and that the stress-responsive MAP kinase pathway was involved in this regulation.