A distinct phase of cyclin B (Cdc13) nuclear export at mitotic entry in S. pombe

In eukaryotes, cell division requires coordination between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Entry into cell division is driven by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which need a cyclin binding partner for their activity. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast), the B-type cyclin Cdc13 is essential and sufficient for cell cycle progression and is strongly enriched in the nucleus. Here, we show that a fraction of Cdc13 is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm just prior to mitosis. This export could be critical to propagate CDK activity throughout the cell. Mutating three Cdc13 nuclear localization signals (NLSs) led to precocious enrichment of Cdc13 in the cytoplasm but did not accelerate mitotic entry, indicating that the export is not sufficient to trigger entry into mitosis. The export coincides with spindle pole body integration into the nuclear envelope and may be required to coordinate nuclear and cytoplasmic signaling required for this integration. The onset and stop of Cdc13 nuclear export are remarkably abrupt, underscoring that S. pombe mitotic entry consists of several switch-like transitions over the course of minutes. Our findings add another instance to the various cyclin nuclear transport events known to occur at critical cell cycle transitions throughout eukaryotes.