The UFE1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cloned, sequenced and characterized. The coding region of UFE1 is separated from the TMP1 gene on chromosome XV by 624 bp. Gene-disruption experiments demonstrated that UFE1 is essential for both the germination of ascospores and for vegetative growth. Translation of the UFE1 coding region generates a protein with significant similarity to cytokeratin and to the coiled-coil region of SED5, USO1 and restin, suggesting that it is involved in the secretory pathway and may also be related to intermediate filament-associated proteins.