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Heterothallic mating type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is RAD52 dependent

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Summary

Mating type interconversion of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by intrachromosomal gene conversion. Whereas homothallic switching is initiated by an endonuclease that produces a DNA double-strand cut within MAT, heterothallic strains lack this activity. In order to identify functions essential for initiation and realisation of heterothallic switching, repair-deficient strains carrying the rad52 or the rad3 mutation were constructed and tested for spontaneous and induced heterothallic switching frequencies. The wild type RAD52 function is essential for spontaneous and induced switching as well as for the intrachromosomal crossing over which produces a deleted ring chromosome III.

The rad3 mutation had almost no influence on spontaneous or X-ray induced switching, but it does reduce induction by ultraviolet radiation.

The data are interpreted to indicate that heterothallic switching is accomplished via recombinogenic repair, perhaps of a double-strand break. The conversion event as well as the crossing over event leading to a change in mating type are equally affected by the rad52 mutation and therefore perhaps associated.

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Abbreviations

DSB:

Double Strand Break

nm:

nonmater

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Author notes

  1. Robert Schiestl

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Rochester, 14627, Rochester, NY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Tumorbiology-Cancer Research, University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090, Wien, Austria

    Robert Schiestl

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Alberta, T6G 2E9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Robert Schiestl

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  1. Robert Schiestl
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Communicated by C.P. Hollenberg

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Schiestl, R. Heterothallic mating type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is RAD52 dependent. Molec Gen Genet 204, 496–504 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331031

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331031

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