Selective inhibition of transition from sexual agglutination to zygote formation by ethyl N-phenylcarbamate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Effects of ethyl N-phenylcarbamate (EPC) on the mating reaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied, with special attention on the effect on the alpha pheromone action. EPC inhibited zygote formation at a concentration which promoted induction of sexual agglutinability. EPC enhanced agglutinability induction by alpha pheromone, but inhibited alpha-pheromone-induced formation of large pearshaped cells in a mating type. The enhancement of agglutinability induction was accompanied with increased production of a agglutination substance and inhibition of alpha pheromone inactivation. EPC arrested the cell cycle of a cells probably in the step controlled by CDC19, CDC35, cAMP etc., just before the step controlled by CDC28, alpha pheromone etc.