YKE2, a yeast nuclear gene encoding a protein showing homology to mouse KE2 and containing a putative leucine-zipper motif.

The nucleotide sequence of YKE2, a yeast nuclear gene, has been determined. The deduced YKE2 protein has 114 amino acids (12 kDa), shows significant homology with the murine KE2 and contains a putative Leu-zipper motif characteristic of a group of DNA-binding proteins [Landschulz et al., Science 240 (1988) 1759-1764]. Strains in which YKE2 has been disrupted show normal cell growth in glucose and galactose media over the temperature range of 16 to 40 degrees C. Disrupted strains also display normal mating and sporulation abilities. Northern analysis revealed that the transcription of YKE2 is unresponsive to catabolite repression by glucose.