Meiosis-inducing protein (IME1) is a master regulator of meiosis that is active only during meiotic events, activates transcription of early meiotic genes through interaction with Ume6p, degraded by the 26S proteasome following phosphorylation by Ime2p. IME1 is required for sporulation and for early sporulation-specific genes expression. It is a positive regulator of SME1/IME2 expression.