The unique putative gene for thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was isolated from the chromosomal DNA of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The determined DNA sequence carries 3125 bp, and encodes the plausible 322 amino acid sequence of TrxR with a molecular mass of 34,618 Da. The S. pombe cells harboring the cloned TrxR gene contain increased TrxR activity, and shows higher survivals on solid media with mercuric chloride or aluminum chloride. The 1526 bp upstream region was fused into promoterless beta-galactosidase gene of the shuttle vector YEp367R to generate the fusion plasmid. The synthesis of beta-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid pYUTR10 was enhanced by menadione, mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide, aluminium chloride and sodium selenite. Menadione significantly enhanced the TrxR mRNA level in the S. pombe cells, which was detected by RT-PCR. Induction of the S. pombe TrxR gene by menadione and mercuric chloride occurs through the mediation of the transcription factor Pap1. These results suggest that the S. pombe TrxR gene is one of the stress response-related genes.