Genome-wide screen for cell growth regulators in fission yeast.

Cellular growth control is important for all living organisms, but experimental investigation into this problem is difficult because of the complex range of growth regulatory mechanisms. Here, we have used the fission yeast to identify potential master regulators of growth. At the restrictive temperature, the strain enters the meiotic developmental program, but arrests in meiotic G2 phase as is essential for meiotic progression.

Global control of cell growth in fission yeast and its coordination with the cell cycle.

Cell growth is a fundamental process for every cell but its pleiotropic complexity makes it difficult to comprehend. Global aspects of cellular growth, like the overall determinants of growth rate are not well understood. Here we examine the cell growth pattern of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe during the mitotic and meiotic cell cycles.

Actin nucleators in the nucleus: an emerging theme.

Actin is an integral component of the cytoskeleton, forming a plethora of macromolecular structures that mediate various cellular functions. The formation of such structures relies on the ability of actin monomers to associate into polymers, and this process is regulated by actin nucleation factors. These factors use monomeric actin pools at specific cellular locations, thereby permitting rapid actin filament formation when required.

Actin nucleation by a transcription co-factor that links cytoskeletal events with the p53 response.

Despite its obvious importance in tumorigenesis, little information is available on the mechanisms that integrate cell motility and invasion with nuclear events.  Tumor suppressor p53 is a DNA damage responsive transcription factor which initiates a checkpoint response culminating in cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. JMY is a transcription co-factor that functions in the nucleus during the p53 response.

A transcription co-factor integrates cell adhesion and motility with the p53 response.

Despite its obvious importance in tumorigenesis, little information is available on the mechanisms that integrate cell motility and adhesion with nuclear events. JMY is a transcription co-factor that regulates the p53 response. In addition, JMY contains a series of WH2 domains that facilitate in vitro actin nucleation.

A novel component of the division-site selection system of Bacillus subtilis and a new mode of action for the division inhibitor MinCD.

Cell division in bacteria is governed by a complex cytokinetic machinery in which the key player is a tubulin homologue, FtsZ. Most rod-shaped bacteria divide precisely at mid-cell between segregated sister chromosomes. Selection of the correct site for cell division is thought to be determined by two negative regulatory systems: the nucleoid occlusion system, which prevents division in the vicinity of the chromosomes, and the Min system, which prevents inappropriate division at the cell poles.

Regulated intramembrane proteolysis of FtsL protein and the control of cell division in Bacillus subtilis.

The small bitopic division protein FtsL is an essential part of the division machinery (divisome) in most eubacteria. In Bacillus subtilis FtsL is a highly unstable protein and the turnover has been implicated in regulation of division in response to DNA damage. N-terminal deletions and a domain swap experiment identified the short cytoplasmic domain of FtsL as being required for instability.