Ectopic overproduction of a sporulation-specific transcription factor induces assembly of prespore-like membranous compartments in vegetative cells of fission yeast.

ABSTRACT

Mei4 is a key sporulation-specific transcription factor in fission yeast. Ectopic expression of Mei4 in vegetative cells caused formation of nucleated membranous compartments, which shared common features with normal forespore membranes, thereby perturbing nuclear division. These results suggest why expression of development-specific transcription factors must be strictly controlled.