The cell-cycle-regulated budding yeast gene DBF2, encoding a putative protein kinase, has a homologue that is not...

The budding yeast cell-cycle gene, DBF2, encoding a putative protein kinase, was shown to have a homologue, designated DBF20. This gene was cloned, sequenced, and confirmed to be highly homologous to DBF2, with over 80% identity in the 490 most C-terminal amino acid residues. Either gene could be deleted by itself, but deletion of both genes simultaneously was lethal, indicating that they are redundant for at least one vital function in yeast. In contrast to the DBF2 mRNA, which is expressed under cell-cycle control at or near START [Johnston et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10 (1990) 1358-1366], the DBF20 mRNA is expressed at a low level and not under cell-cycle control. Assuming there is no translational control, the differential expression of the mRNAs would result in a cell-cycle fluctuation of the relative levels of the gene products, which may constitute a novel form of regulation.