title: Cdk1 activity acts as a quantitative platform for coordinating cell cycle progression with periodic transcription.
abstract: Cell proliferation is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and requires the periodic expression of particular gene clusters in different cell cycle phases. However, the interplay between the networks that generate these transcriptional oscillations and the core cell cycle machinery remains largely unexplored. In this work, we use a synthetic regulable Cdk1 module to demonstrate that periodic expression is governed by quantitative changes in Cdk1 activity, with different clusters directly responding to specific activity levels. We further establish that cell cycle events neither participate in nor interfere with the Cdk1-driven transcriptional program, provided that cells are exposed to the appropriate Cdk1 activities. These findings contrast with current models that propose self-sustained and Cdk1-independent transcriptional oscillations. Our work therefore supports a model in which Cdk1 activity serves as a quantitative platform for coordinating cell cycle transitions with the expression of critical genes to bring about proper cell cycle progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 9A, PO Box 440, 41390 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banyai
authors.affiliation: SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 Avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Feriel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baïdi
authors.affiliation: SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 Avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coudreuse
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 9A, PO Box 440, 41390 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szilagyi
mesh_terms: D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005810:Multigene Family; D010507:Periodicity; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C584364:3MB-PP1; D011687:Purines; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase