Isolation and DNA Sequence of the STE13 Gene Encoding Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase

We have isolated a mutant which exhibits partial constitutivity for a-specific gene expression in alpha cells. The wild-type gene was cloned and demonstrated to be allelic to the STE13 gene, which encodes the dipeptidyl aminopeptidase involved in processing of the alpha-factor prepropheromone. Thus, the mating defect of the ste13 mutations in alpha cells may result both from the production of incompletely processed alpha-factor and from the increased expression of a-specific genes. The STE13 open reading frame of 931 amino acids contains a putative membrane-spanning segment near its amino terminus and is 31% identical to a second yeast dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP2). A null mutant of STE13 has been constructed: it is viable and sporulation-proficient.