THE NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE CHROMOSOME-XVI

The nucleotide sequence of the 948,061 base pairs of chromosome XVI ha s been determined, completing the sequence of the yeast genome. Chromo some XVI was the last yeast chromosome identified(1), and some of the genes mapped early to it, such as GAL4, PEP4 and RAD1 (ref. 2) have pl ayed important roles in the development of yeast biology. The architec ture of this final chromosome seems to be typical of the large yeast c hromosomes, and shows large duplications with other yeast chromosomes. Chromosome XVI contains 487 potential protein-encoding genes, 17 tRNA genes and two small nuclear RNA genes; 27% of the genes have signific ant similarities to human gene products, and 48% are new and of unknow n biological function. Systematic efforts to explore gene function hav e begun.