REGULATION OF THE CLN3-CDC28 KINASE BY CAMP IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae grows at widely varying rates in di fferent growth media. In order to maintain a relatively constant cell size, yeast cells must regulate the rate of progress through the cell cycle to match changes in growth rate, moving quickly through G(1) in rich medium, and slowly in poor medium. We have examined connections b etween nutrients, and the expression and activity of Cln3-Cdc28 kinase that regulates the G(1)-S boundary of the cell cycle in yeast, a poin t referred to as Start. We find that Cln3 protein levels are highest i n glucose and lower in poorer carbon sources. This regulation involves both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control, Although the R as-cAMP pathway does not appear to affect CLN3 transcription, cAMP inc reases Cln3 protein levels and Cln3-Cdc28 kinase activity. This regula tion requires untranslated regions of the CLN3 message, and can be exp lained by changes in protein synthesis rates caused by cAMP, A model f or CLN3 regulation and function is presented in which CLN3 regulates G (1) length in response to nutrients.