Genetic studies have previously demonstrated that the RED1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division. Northern blot hybridization analysis indicates that the RED1 gene produces two transcripts of 2.75 and 3.2 kilobases. The major 2.75 kb transcript is not present in mitotic cells and is meiotically induced to accumulate maximally just prior to the meiosis I division. The DNA sequence of the RED1 gene was determined and used to predict the amino acid sequence of the encoded gene product. The RED1 protein is 827 amino acids in length and has a molecular weight of 95.5 kilodaltons. There is no significant homology between the RED1 amino acid sequence and other known protein sequences, including those encoded by genes essential for meiosis.