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G1 control in yeast and animal cells
1Department of Molecular Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Ciba Foundation Symposium
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Researchers investigated cell cycle control in budding yeast and animal cells. They found that cyclin E in animal cells may play a similar role to yeast G1 cyclins in regulating the cell cycle.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The cell cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by CDC28 protein kinase activity at the G1/S phase transition.
- CDC28 controls both G1/S and G2/M transitions through activation by G1 cyclins (CLNs) and B-type cyclins (CLBs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Cdc2-related kinases have a dual role in animal cells similar to budding yeast.
- To identify human homologues of yeast G1 cyclins.
Main Methods:
- Investigated human homologues of yeast G1 cyclins.
- Analyzed the accumulation kinetics of cyclin E-associated protein kinase activity.
Main Results:
- Cyclin E was identified as a promising candidate human homologue of yeast G1 cyclins.
- Cyclin E accumulates prior to S phase and associates with pre-S phase protein kinase activity.
Conclusions:
- The accumulation kinetics of cyclin E-associated kinase activity suggest a role at the mammalian cell cycle restriction point.
- Cyclin E may function analogously to yeast G1 cyclins in regulating the mammalian cell cycle.