Cell cycle regulated transcription: from yeast to cancer

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed exciting new functions for forkhead transcription factors in cell proliferation and development. Cell proliferation is a fundamental process controlled by multiple overlapping mechanisms, and the control of gene expression plays a major role in the orderly and timely division of cells. This occurs through transcription factors regulating the expression of groups of genes at particular phases of the cell division cycle. In this way, the encoded gene products are present when they are required. This review outlines recent advances in our understanding of this process in yeast model systems and describes how this knowledge has informed analysis in more developmentally complex eukaryotes, particularly where it is relevant to human disease.

Keywords: Cell cycle; Cell proliferation; cancer; transcription; yeast.

Figure 1.. Networks of transcription factors controlling gene expression during the cell cycles of budding and fission yeasts.

In each yeast species, the principal transcription factors are shown, and the downstream transcription factor(s) that they regulate, either positively or negatively, are indicated by arrows. Where similar transcription factors are present in the two species, they are shown in the same colour. In budding yeast, a reasonably complete network exists, whereby consecutive regulation of transcription factors encompasses the whole cell cycle. In contrast, the network in fission yeast is more limited.