Expression system for foreign genes using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Foreign-gene expression systems using mammalian cells, Escherichia coli, insect cells, yeast and other organisms as hosts have been developed. The demand for protein-production systems will be further increased in basic research, medical science and the biotechnological industry. Systems using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a host have only recently received attention. The advantages of this yeast, which is more advanced evolutionarily than other types of yeast, the expression vectors available and examples of heterologous protein produced with this system, are reviewed here.