Chromosomal superkiller mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Abstract
Yeast strains carrying a 1.5 .times. 106 dalton double-stranded RNA in virus-like particles secrete a protein toxin which is lethal to strains not carrying this species of double-stranded RNA. Recessive mutations in any of 4 chromosomal genes result in the superkiller phenotype, i.e., increased secretion of killer toxin activity by strains carrying the killer genome. These genes are designated ski1 through ski4 (for superkiller); ski3 and ski4 are located on chromosome XIV, and ski1 is on chromosome VII. A ski1 mutation results in a decreased rate of cell growth. The kex1 and kex2 mutations are epistatic to each ski mutation.