Synchronization of haploid yeast cell cycles, a prelude to conjugation

Asynchronous haploid cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae require an interval of courtship with cells of opposite mating type before cell fusion can occur to produce a single diploid zygote. One of the events occurring during this courtship period is the synchronization of the two haploid cell cycles, since, at the time of fusion, both cells are unbudded and mononucleate. These results are consistent with a role for α-factor in the yeast mating process as postulated by Bücking-Throm et al. [4].