The MID2 gene encodes a putative integral membrane protein with a Ca(2+)-binding domain and shows mating pheromone-stimulated expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The MID2 gene whose defect (the mid2-1 mutation) results in mating-pheromone-induced death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cloned and its nucleotide (nt) sequence determined. The sequence showed an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a 376-amino-acid (aa) protein with an estimated M(r) of 39,104, and six potential TATA boxes and two pheromone-response elements in its 5'-upstream region. The deduced aa sequence showed that the MID2 product (Mid2p) contains a putative N-terminal signal sequence followed by a long Ser-rich region that could contain O-glycosylation sites, a potential transmembrane domain and a conserved Ca(2+)-binding domain, with the latter two located in the C-terminal half. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of MID2 is stimulated threefold by mating pheromone. Cells that lack MID2 were able to grow normally, but died when exposed to mating pheromone, like the original mid2-1 mutant.