A size-invariant bud-duration timer enables robustness in yeast cell size control.

TitleA size-invariant bud-duration timer enables robustness in yeast cell size control.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsAllard, CAH, Decker, F, Weiner, OD, Toettcher, JE, Graziano, BR
JournalPLoS One
Volume13
Issue12
Paginatione0209301
Date Published2018
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Cell Cycle, Cell Growth Processes, G1 Phase, Homeostasis, Optogenetics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
Abstract

<p>Cell populations across nearly all forms of life generally maintain a characteristic cell type-dependent size, but how size control is achieved has been a long-standing question. The G1/S boundary of the cell cycle serves as a major point of size control, and mechanisms operating here restrict passage of cells to Start if they are too small. In contrast, it is less clear how size is regulated post-Start, during S/G2/M. To gain further insight into post-Start size control, we prepared budding yeast that can be reversibly blocked from bud initiation. While blocked, cells continue to grow isotropically, increasing their volume by more than an order of magnitude over unperturbed cells. Upon release from their block, giant mothers reenter the cell cycle and their progeny rapidly return to the original unperturbed size. We found this behavior to be consistent with a size-invariant 'timer' specifying the duration of S/G2/M. These results indicate that yeast use at least two distinct mechanisms at different cell cycle phases to ensure size homeostasis.</p>

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0209301
Alternate JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID30576342
PubMed Central IDPMC6303054
Grant ListR35 GM118167 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
DP2 EB024247 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States