Events associated with restoration by zinc of meiosis in apomictic Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

The effects of nutritional alterations (carbon source and zinc) on nuclear division and protein synthesis during apomictic and meiotic development in Saccharomyces cerevisiae 19e1 were investigated. Unlike cells cultivated under meiosis-promoting conditions, cells cultured under apomixis-promoting conditions exhibited extensive protein synthesis during the first 3 h of incubation in sporulation medium, and nuclear divisions were evident during this time. Cycloheximide treatment of the latter cells induced meiosis, and maximum yields of meiotic asci resulted when this treatment was given for the first 3 h in sporulation medium. The results indicate that the decision concerning which developmental route cells will follow is made shortly after transfer to sporulation medium. Electrophoretic analysis of labeled proteins synthesized during sporulation revealed bands unique to both developmental routes.