Peter A. Fantes

Control of cell size at division in fission yeast by a growth-modulated size control over nuclear division.

Abstract In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe , nutritional reduction of growth rate by supplying poor nitrogen, carbon or phosphate sources causes a decrease in cell size. The effect on cell division following three different nutritional shifts-up has been investigated. In all cases, about 20% of the cells divide at the original cell length, and then cell division stops for a period. Cell division then resumes at the new faster rate, cell length at division being characteristic of the new medium. Further investigation reveals that the first effect of the shift is to inhibit nuclear division rapidly and completely. These results are strongly suggestive of the operation of a cell size requirement for entry into nuclear division. The cell size necessary for nuclear division is set, or modulated, by the prevailing growth conditions. This model is confirmed by a nutritional shift-down, where nuclear division and cell division are stimulated after the shift. Cell length at division falls rapidly until the new shorter length is attained, when a new steady state is assumed at a slower growth rate. The control system is compared with that in bacteria, and its implications for various models proposed for the control of timing of mitosis are discussed.

Stress signal, mediated by a Hogl-like MAP kinase, controls sexual development in fission yeast

We identified the phhl + gene that encodes a MAP kinase as the effector of Wis1 MAP kinase kinase in fission yeast, which is highly homologous with HOG1 of S. cerevisiae. Heterothalic phh1 dsiruptant is phenotypically indistinguishable from wis1 deletion mutant, both displaying the same extent of partial sterility and enhanced sensitivity to a variety of stress. In phh1 disruptant, nitrogen starvation‐induced expression of ste11 +, a key controller of sexual differentiation, is markedly diminished. Ectopic expression of ste11 + effectively restores fertility, but not stress resistance, to the phh1 disruptant. These data show that stress signal, mediated by a MAP kinase, is required for efficient start of sexual differentiation.

Fission yeast cut5 links nuclear chromatin and M phase regulator in the replication checkpoint control.

Fission yeast temperature‐sensitive cut5 (cell untimely torn) mutants are defective in initiation and/or elongation of DNA replication but allow mitosis and cell division at a restrictive temperature. We show that the cut5 protein (identical to rad4) (i) is an essential component of the replication checkpoint system but not the DNA damage checkpoint, and (ii) negatively regulates the activation of M phase kinase at mitotic entry. Even if the replication checkpoint has been activated previously, cut5 mutations allow mitosis and cell division after shift to 36 degrees C. Transcription of cut5+ is not under the control of the START gene cdc10+. The cut5 protein is enriched in the nucleus, consisting of repeating domains. An essential domain which resembles the proto‐oncoprotein Ect2 has a strong negative effect on the entry into mitosis when overexpressed. Expression of the cut5 mutant phenotype requires the function of the M phase regulator genes cdc2+, cdc25+ and cdc13+. The cut5 protein forms a novel, essential link between DNA synthesis and M phase activation in the replication checkpoint control pathway.

Multiple modes of activation of the stress-responsive MAP kinase pathway in fission yeast

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe wis1+ gene is essential for cell survival under stress conditions. The MAPKK homologue Wis1 is required for activation of the MAPK homologue Spc1, and integrity of the Wis1–Spc1 pathway is required for survival in extreme conditions of heat, osmolarity, oxidation or limited nutrition. We show here that Wis4, a protein kinase of a new MAPKKK class, phosphorylates Wis1 in vitro and activates it in vivo. Win1 is also required for full activation of Wis1, and Win1 rather than Wis4 mediates the osmotic stress signal. Surprisingly, the pathway can still be activated by heat or oxidative stress independently of the phosphorylation of two conserved Wis1 residues. Evidence is presented that the Pyp1 protein tyrosine phosphatase, which dephosphorylates Spc1, is central to this alternative activation mechanism.

Control of the timing of cell division in fission yeast: Cell size mutants reveal a second control pathway☆

Abstract Strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe carrying the wee 1 mutation divide at a reduced cell size compared with the wild-type. In this paper, we investigate the mechanism which determines the time of division and cell size at division in wee 1 strains, using three experimental approaches. The evidence suggests that the wild-type control (a cell size control over entry into nuclear division) is absent in wee 1 strains. Instead, a mechanism operates which comprises a cell size control over the initiation of S phase plus a minimum incompressible period in G2 (“timer”) from S phase to nuclear division. The elements of this second control mechanism exist in wild-type cells, though the control is not normally expressed. In particular, the G2 interval in wild-type cells is normally longer than that in wee 1 cells, but can be reduced to this minimum value by delaying S phase. Thus there are two independent controls over entry into nuclear division, one of which operates in wild-type, and the other in wee 1 cells.

The cell cycle genes cdc22+ and suc22+ of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe encode the large and small subunits of ribonucleotide reductase

The cdc22+ gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is required early in the cell cycle, and its transcript varies in concentration in step with the cell cycle, with a peak level at the G1-S boundary. The sequences of the cdc22+ gene and of a multicopy suppressor of cdc22ts mutations, suc22+, have been determined. The cdc22+ open reading frame, which is interrupted in the genome by a single intron very close to its 5′ end, encodes a protein of 811 amino acids, which has an amino acid sequence highly similar to that of the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase from several species. The suc22+ gene contains an uninterrupted open reading frame of 391 amino acids, very similar to the sequence of the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase. Disruption of either gene is lethal. Upstream of the cdc22+ coding region are seven short sequence elements similar to the recognition sequence for MluI, which are involved in regulating periodic transcription of the gene. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by hydroxyurea results in a several-fold increase in the level of the cdc22+ transcript. In contrast, hydroxyurea does not induce the 1.5 kb transcript of suc22+, but results in the induction of a 1.9 kb mRNA which hybridises to suc22+ DNA.

THE FISSION YEAST CDC1 PROTEIN, A HOMOLOGUE OF THE SMALL SUBUNIT OF DNA POLYMERASE DELTA , BINDS TO POL3 AND CDC27

cdc1+ is required for cell cycle progression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cells carrying temperature‐sensitive cdc1 mutants undergo cell cycle arrest when shifted to the restrictive temperature, becoming highly elongated. Here we describe the cloning and sequencing of cdc1+, which is shown to encode a 462 residue protein that displays significant sequence similarity to the small subunit of mammalian DNA polymerase delta. cdc1+ interacts genetically with pol3+, which encodes the large subunit of DNA polymerase delta in fission yeast, and the Cdc1 protein binds to Pol3 in vitro, strongly suggesting that Cdc1 is likely to be the small subunit of Pol delta. In addition, we show that cdc1+ overexpression is sufficient to rescue cells carrying temperature‐sensitive cdc27 alleles and that the Cdc1 and Cdc27 proteins interact in vivo and in vitro. Deletion of either cdc1+ or cdc27+ results in cell cycle arrest with the arrested cells having a single nucleus with 2C DNA content. No evidence was obtained for a cut phenotype, indicating that neither cdc1+ nor cdc27+ is required for checkpoint function. cdc1 mutant cells are supersensitive to the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea and to the DNA damaging agent MMS, display increased frequency of mini‐chromosome loss and have an extended S phase.

Essential interaction between the fission yeast DNA polymerase δ subunit Cdc27 and Pcn1 (PCNA) mediated through a C-terminal p21Cip1-like PCNA binding motif

Direct interaction between DNA polymerase δ and its processivity factor proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is essential for effective replication of the eukaryotic genome, yet the precise manner by which this occurs is unclear. We show that the 54 kDa subunit of DNA polymerase δ from Schizosaccharomyces pombe interacts directly with Pcn1 (PCNA) both in vivo and in vitro. Binding is effected via a short sequence at the C‐terminus of Cdc27 with significant similarity to the canonical PCNA binding motif first identified in the mammalian p21Cip1 protein. This motif is both necessary and sufficient for binding of Pcn1 by Cdc27 in vitro and is essential for Cdc27 function in vivo. We also show that the Pcn1 binding motif in Cdc27 is distinct from its binding site for Cdc1, the 55 kDa B‐subunit of polymerase δ, and present evidence that Cdc27 can bind to Pcn1 and Cdc1 simultaneously. Finally, we show that Cdc27 performs at least two distinct essential functions, one of which is independent of Pcn1 binding.

A multicopy suppressor of a cell cycle defect in S. pombe encodes a heat shock-inducible 40 kDa cyclophilin-like protein.

Cyclophilins are peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerases (PPIases) which have been implicated in intracellular protein folding, transport and assembly. Cyclophilins are also known as the intracellular receptors for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA). The most common type of cyclophilins are the 18 kDa cytosolic proteins containing only the highly conserved core domain for PPIase and CsA binding activities. The wis2+ gene of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was isolated as a multicopy suppressor of wee1–50 cdc25–22 win1–1, a triple mutant strain which exhibits a cell cycle defect phenotype. Sequence analysis of wis2+ reveals that it encodes a 40 kDa cyclophilin‐like protein, homologous to the mammalian cyclophilin 40. The 18 kDa cyclophilin domain (CyP‐18) of wis2 is followed by a C‐terminal region of 188 amino acids. The C‐terminal region of wis2 is essential for suppression of the triple mutant defect. Furthermore this region of the protein is able to confer suppression activity on the 18 kDa S.pombe cyclophilin, cyp1, since a hybrid protein consisting of an 18 kDa S.pombe cyclophilin (cyp1) fused to the C‐terminus of wis2 shows suppression activity. We also demonstrate that the level of wis2+ mRNA increases 10‐ to 20‐fold upon heat shock of S.pombe cells suggesting a role for wis2+ in the heat‐shock response.

Cdm1, the smallest subunit of DNA polymerase d in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is non-essential for growth and division.

Abstract Highly purified DNA polymerase δ from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a complex of at least four distinct subunits. Genes encoding three of these (pol3+/cdc6+, cdc1+ and cdc27+) have been characterised previously. Here we describe the isolation and characterisation of cdm1+, the gene encoding the smallest (22kDa) subunit of the Pol δ complex. Over-expression of cdm1+, which encodes a 160 amino-acid protein with no significant sequence similarity to proteins in current databases, is able to rescue cells carrying temperature-sensitive mutations in either pol3+/cdc6+, cdc1+ or cdc27+. Cells deleted for cdm1+ are viable, indicating that cdm1+ is non-essential for mitotic growth, and are no more sensitive to a variety of DNA replication inhibitors and DNA damaging agents than are wild-type cells. In addition, over-expression of cdm1+ suppresses the temperature-sensitive cdc24-M38 mutant suggesting that cdc24+ may also have a role in DNA polymerase δ function.