Abstract 2879 Investigating protein-protein interactions required for yeast cell fusion

Cell fusion is a complex and tightly regulated process that is fundamental for all eukaryotic life and development. Cell fusion can be difficult to study, however Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a good model to investigate this process because they undergo a fusion event similar to fertilization in higher eukaryotes. Fusion in budding yeast occurs during the mating pathway, when two cells of opposite mating types come together to form a diploid zygote. After cell-cell contact, yeast cells must degrade their cell walls to allow for plasma membrane fusion.