Analysis of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Meiosis
- 1Laboratory of Cell Responses, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan;
- 2Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan;
- 3Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
- ↵5Correspondence: ymst{at}nibb.ac.jp; yamamoto{at}nibb.ac.jp
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↵4 These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell cycle that generates haploid gametes from diploid cells. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is one of the best model organisms for studying the regulatory mechanisms of meiosis. S. pombe cells, which normally grow in the haploid state, diploidize by conjugation and initiate meiosis when starved for nutrients, especially nitrogen. Following two rounds of chromosome segregation, spore formation takes place. The switch from mitosis to meiosis is controlled by a kinase, Pat1, and an RNA-binding protein, Mei2. Mei2 is also a key factor for meiosis-specific gene expression. Studies on S. pombe have offered insights into cell cycle regulation and chromosome segregation during meiosis. Here we outline the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the initiation and progression of meiosis, and introduce methods for the study of meiosis in fission yeast.
Footnotes
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From the Fission Yeast collection, edited by Iain M. Hagan, Antony M. Carr, Agnes Grallert, and Paul Nurse.
