Article

  • The EMBO Journal (2002) 21, 5745 - 5755
  • doi:10.1093/emboj/cdf564

plo1+ regulates gene transcription at the M–G1 interval during the fission yeast mitotic cell cycle

Mark Anderson1, Szu Shien Ng1, Vanessa Marchesi1, Fiona H. MacIver2, Frances E. Stevens2, Tracy Riddell1, David M. Glover3, Iain M. Hagan2 and Christopher J. McInerny1

  1. Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
  2. Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
  3. Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK

Correspondence to:

Christopher J. McInerny, E-mail: C.McInerny@bio.gla.ac.uk

Received 4 July 2002; Accepted 5 September 2002; Revised 4 September 2002


The regulation of gene expression plays an important part in cell cycle controls. We describe the molecular machinery that co-ordinates gene transcription at the M–G1 interval during the fission yeast mitotic cell cycle. A sequence is identified in the cdc15+ promoter that we call a PCB (pombe cell cycle box), which confers M–G1-specific transcription. Sequences similar to the PCB are present in the promoters of seven other genes, spo12+, cdc19+, fin1+, sid2+, ppb1+, mid1+/dmf1+ and plo1+, which we find to be transcribed at M–G1. A transcription factor complex is identified that binds to the PCB sequence, which we name PBF, for PCB-binding factor. Finally, we show that PBF binding activity and consequent gene transcription are regulated by the Plo1p protein kinase, thus invoking a potential auto-feedback loop mechanism that regulates mitotic gene transcription and passage through septation and cytokinesis.

  • Keywords:

    • cell cycle,
    • fission yeast,
    • plo1+,
    • transcription