On ras gene function in yeast.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two RAS genes, RAS1 and RAS2. An insertion mutation in RAS2 (ras2::LEU2) does not affect growth on glucose based media but it does prevent growth on media with pyruvate or other noncarbohydrate carbon sources. This defect is pH sensitive and is most severe at pH 7 and above. The ras2::LEU2 mutation also causes markedly higher levels of glycogen in the derepressed phase of growth after glucose exhaustion. Selection for restoration of growth on pyruvate yields unlinked suppressor mutations. Some of the suppressors also reduce glycogen as well as trehalose (the other reserve carbohydrate in yeast) to levels much lower than those of wild-type strains. These suppressor mutations do not suppress the lethality of ras1 ras2 double mutants. The results indirectly accord with yeast RAS2 governing a G protein activity of adenylate cyclase.