Control of Yeast Cell Types by Mobile Genes: A Test
Abstract
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae changes cell types by switching the alleles of the mating type locus (MAT) from a to α and vice versa. In the cassette model, these switches-e.g., from a to α-occur when a replica of silent α information (an α "cassette") replaces the resident a cassette at the mating type locus and is thereby expressed. We have identified a mutation in the locus postulated to be the silent α information (HMLα) and find that a mutation is introduced into the mating type locus as a result of interconversion: HMLα-MATα cells switch to MATa and then to MATα-. The MATα- mutation leads to defective mating and behaves like some previously identified MATα- mutations. These observations satisfy the prediction of the cassette and controlling element models that genetic information is transmitted from HMLα to the mating type locus.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- October 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.76.10.5264
- Bibcode:
- 1979PNAS...76.5264K