The Wellcome Lecture, 1992. Cell cycle control

Abstract

Genetic analysis using the fission yeast has provided a powerful methodology to investigate the eukaryotic cell cycle and its control. The onset of M -phase in fission yeast is controlled by a regulatory gene network which activates the p34cdc2protein kinase encoded by thecdc2+gene. The coupling of M -phase to the completion of S-phase also works through p34cdc2. A similar network is operative in vertebrate cells. Future work will focus on the controls regulating onset of S-phase and on the mechanisms by which a cell duplicates itself in space during division.