Control of cell growth

Control of cell growth and division is essential to prevent aberrant cellular development but the biochemical mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. In July Nature Cell Biology, Duncan Clarke and colleagues from the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California identified the protein securin Pds1p as vital in determining the continuation of cell division.Using the budding yeast as a model, Clarke et al. showed that the coupling of the completion of genome replication with mitosis re

Written byTudor Toma
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

Control of cell growth and division is essential to prevent aberrant cellular development but the biochemical mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. In July Nature Cell Biology, Duncan Clarke and colleagues from the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California identified the protein securin Pds1p as vital in determining the continuation of cell division.

Using the budding yeast as a model, Clarke et al. showed that the coupling of the completion of genome replication with mitosis relies on the regulation of Pds1p levels. In addition, Mec1p is needed to maintain Pds1p levels under S-phase checkpoint conditions. But kinase Rad53p and the DNA-damage checkpoint kinase Chk1p are dispensable for this response (Nat Cell Biol 2001, 3:619-626).

Thus, the Pds1p-dependent late-S-phase checkpoint pathway couples replication with mitosis but is mechanistically distinct from the G2 DNA-damage checkpoint. This mechanism could be a new target for therapy to guard against genome instability.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
Graphic of three DNA helices in various colors

An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Abstract illustration of spheres with multiple layers, representing endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm derived organoids

Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

Thermo Fisher Logo

Products

nuclera logo

Nuclera eProtein Discovery System installed at leading Universities in Taiwan

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control

Biotium Logo

Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

Colorful abstract spiral dot pattern on a black background

Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

Thermo Fisher Logo