New & Noteworthy

Naming Your Newly Characterized Yeast Gene: A Guide to SGD Gene Nomenclature

April 03, 2026

Have you discovered the function of a previously uncharacterized Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene? Here’s everything you need to know about giving it an official standard name.

Understanding Yeast Gene Nomenclature

SGD maintains the S. cerevisiae nomenclature according to guidelines established by the yeast research community. These conventions ensure consistency and clarity across the field, making it easier for researchers worldwide to communicate about genes and their functions.

The Naming Rules

Valid standard names for S. cerevisiae ORFs follow a simple but important format:

• Three letters followed by a number (for example, COX2 or CDC28)
• Must be unique, not previously used to describe another yeast gene
• Should ideally reflect function when possible

This naming convention has served the yeast community well for decades, creating an intuitive system where gene names often provide immediate clues about biological roles.

How to Reserve Your Gene Name

If you’re preparing to publish work on a gene that currently has only a systematic name (like YAL037W), reserve a standard name through SGD before publication. Here’s how:

The Reservation Process

1. Submit early: Reserve your gene name before you publish. A gene name reservation is valid for twelve months, which is typically enough time to write, submit, and publish your manuscript.
2. Access the reservation form: Visit https://www.yeastgenome.org/reserved_name/new, or navigate from any SGD page using the purple toolbar at the top: Community > Nomenclature > Submit a Gene Registration.
3. Publication makes it official: Your reserved gene name will become the standard gene name upon publication.

Best Practices for Publication

When you’re ready to publish, we recommend:

✓ Double-check the literature to ensure your chosen name is still unique
✓ Include both the ORF name and gene name in your abstract – this helps SGD and other databases find and curate your paper efficiently
✓ Verify your reservation is still active if your publication timeline will extend beyond the initial twelve-month period

Need More Information?

The complete gene naming process is described in detail in our Gene Naming Guidelines.

Questions?

The SGD team is here to help! If you have questions about the gene name reservation process or nomenclature guidelines, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sgd-helpdesk@lists.stanford.edu.

Contributing to yeast nomenclature is an important part of advancing our collective understanding of this remarkable model organism. Thank you for following these guidelines and helping maintain the clarity and consistency of yeast gene names!

Categories: Tutorial