The yes proto-oncogene is present in amphibians and contributes to the maternal RNA pool in the oocyte.

Low stringency screening of a cDNA library from the frog Xenopus laevis with a viral yes oncogene probe resulted in the isolation of clones with restriction maps which were distinct from previously identified X. laevis src cDNA clones. The polypeptide produced by in vitro translation of RNA synthesized from one of the clones was slightly larger in size than X. laevis pp60src, but gave protease cleavage patterns which were nearly identical to those yielded by pp60src. Determination of the DNA sequence of this clone revealed that it is derived from a X. laevis yes gene homologue. Transcripts from the yes gene were found in the ovary and consisted of a major 3.4 kb species and additional minor species. These findings indicate that the duplication event separating the src and yes genes occurred prior to the appearance of amphibians and that the yes gene product is likely to play an important role in oogenesis or early development.