scholarly journals The concepts of Ludwik Fleck and their application to the eukaryotic cell cycle

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 335-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Cooper ◽  
◽  

The concepts of Ludwik Fleck (1896–1961), a microbiologist, historian, and philosopher of medicine, can be used to analyze the conservative nature of scientific ideas. This is discussed and applied to ideas dominant in the understanding of the eukaryotic cell cycle. These are (a) the G1-phase restriction point as a regulatory element of the mammalian cell cycle, (b) the Rate Change Point proposed to exist in fission yeast, and (c) the proposal that a large number of genes are expressed in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. Fleck proposed that scientific ideas become fixed and difficult to change because criticisms of current and dominant models are either ignored or turned to support of the current model. The idea of a thought-collective leading to the stability of scientific ideas is a central theme of the theory of Ludwik Fleck.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 7268-7282 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Verona ◽  
K Moberg ◽  
S Estes ◽  
M Starz ◽  
J P Vernon ◽  
...  

E2F directs the cell cycle-dependent expression of genes that induce or regulate the cell division process. In mammalian cells, this transcriptional activity arises from the combined properties of multiple E2F-DP heterodimers. In this study, we show that the transcriptional potential of individual E2F species is dependent upon their nuclear localization. This is a constitutive property of E2F-1, -2, and -3, whereas the nuclear localization of E2F-4 is dependent upon its association with other nuclear factors. We previously showed that E2F-4 accounts for the majority of endogenous E2F species. We now show that the subcellular localization of E2F-4 is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner that results in the differential compartmentalization of the various E2F complexes. Consequently, in cycling cells, the majority of the p107-E2F, p130-E2F, and free E2F complexes remain in the cytoplasm. In contrast, almost all of the nuclear E2F activity is generated by pRB-E2F. This complex is present at high levels during G1 but disappears once the cells have passed the restriction point. Surprisingly, dissociation of this complex causes little increase in the levels of nuclear free E2F activity. This observation suggests that the repressive properties of the pRB-E2F complex play a critical role in establishing the temporal regulation of E2F-responsive genes. How the differential subcellular localization of pRB, p107, and p130 contributes to their different biological properties is also discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Schneikert ◽  
Annette Grohmann ◽  
Jürgen Behrens

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 6586-6595 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Hamel ◽  
B L Cohen ◽  
L M Sorce ◽  
B L Gallie ◽  
R A Phillips

With the murine retinoblastoma (RB) cDNA, a series of RB mutants were expressed in COS-1 cells and the pRB products were assessed for their ability (i) to bind to large T antigen (large T), (ii) to become modified by phosphorylation, and (iii) to localize in the nucleus. All point mutations and deletions introduced into regions previously defined as contributing to binding to large T abolished pRB-large T complex formation and prevented hyperphosphorylation of the RB protein. In contrast, a series of deletions 5' to these sites did not interfere with binding to large T. While some of the 5' deletion mutants were clearly phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner, one, delta Pvu, failed to be phosphorylated depsite binding to large T. pRB with mutations created at three putative p34cdc2 phosphorylation sites in the N-terminal region behaved similarly to wild-type pRB, whereas the construct delta P5-6-7-8, mutated at four serine residues C terminal to the large T-binding site, failed to become hyperphosphorylated despite retaining the ability to bind large T. All of the mutants described were also found to localize in the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the domains in pRB responsible for binding to large T are distinct from those recognized by the relevant pRB-specific kinase(s) and/or those which contain cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation sites. Furthermore, these data are consistent with a model in which cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of pRB requires complex formation with other cellular proteins.


1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Roghi ◽  
R. Giet ◽  
R. Uzbekov ◽  
N. Morin ◽  
I. Chartrain ◽  
...  

By differential screening of a Xenopus laevis egg cDNA library, we have isolated a 2,111 bp cDNA which corresponds to a maternal mRNA specifically deadenylated after fertilisation. This cDNA, called Eg2, encodes a 407 amino acid protein kinase. The pEg2 sequence shows significant identity with members of a new protein kinase sub-family which includes Aurora from Drosophila and Ipl1 (increase in ploidy-1) from budding yeast, enzymes involved in centrosome migration and chromosome segregation, respectively. A single 46 kDa polypeptide, which corresponds to the deduced molecular mass of pEg2, is immunodetected in Xenopus oocyte and egg extracts, as well as in lysates of Xenopus XL2 cultured cells. In XL2 cells, pEg2 is immunodetected only in S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle, where it always localises to the centrosomal region of the cell. In addition, pEg2 ‘invades’ the microtubules at the poles of the mitotic spindle in metaphase and anaphase. Immunoelectron microscopy experiments show that pEg2 is located precisely around the pericentriolar material in prophase and on the spindle microtubules in anaphase. We also demonstrate that pEg2 binds directly to taxol stabilised microtubules in vitro. In addition, we show that the presence of microtubules during mitosis is not necessary for an association between pEg2 and the centrosome. Finally we show that a catalytically inactive pEg2 kinase stops the assembly of bipolar mitotic spindles in Xenopus egg extracts.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2676-2686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Snowden ◽  
Lisa A. Anderson ◽  
Gill A. Webster ◽  
Neil D. Perkins

ABSTRACT The transcriptional coactivators p300 and CREB binding protein (CBP) are important regulators of the cell cycle, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Both p300 and CBP are targeted by viral oncoproteins, are mutated in certain forms of cancer, are phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner, interact with transcription factors such as p53 and E2F, and can be found complexed with cyclinE-Cdk2 in vivo. Moreover, p300-deficient cells show defects in proliferation. Here we demonstrate that transcriptional activation by both p300 and CBP is stimulated by coexpression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF/CIP1. Significantly this stimulation is independent of both the inherent histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of p300 and CBP and of the previously reported carboxyl-terminal binding site for cyclinE-Cdk2. Rather, we describe a previously uncharacterized transcriptional repression domain (CRD1) within p300. p300 transactivation is stimulated through derepression of CRD1 by p21. Significantly p21 regulation of CRD1 is dependent on the nature of the core promoter. We suggest that CRD1 provides a novel mechanism through which p300 and CBP can switch activities between the promoters of genes that stimulate growth and those that enhance cell cycle arrest.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuting Liu ◽  
Kehui Wang ◽  
Li Huang ◽  
Jicheng Zhao ◽  
Xinpeng Chen ◽  
...  

Centromere identity is defined by nucleosomes containing CENP-A, a histone H3 variant. The deposition of CENP-A at centromeres is tightly regulated in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. We previously reported that the spatiotemporal control of centromeric CENP-A incorporation is mediated by the phosphorylation of CENP-A Ser68. However, a recent report argued that Ser68 phosphoregulation is dispensable for accurate CENP-A loading. Here, we report that the substitution of Ser68 of endogenous CENP-A with either Gln68 or Glu68 severely impairs CENP-A deposition and cell viability. We also find that mice harboring the corresponding mutations are lethal. Together, these results indicate that the dynamic phosphorylation of Ser68 ensures cell-cycle-dependent CENP-A deposition and cell viability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (16) ◽  
pp. 8439-8451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto González-Medina ◽  
Elena Hidalgo ◽  
José Ayté

Abstract In fission yeast, MBF-dependent transcription is inactivated at the end of S phase through a negative feedback loop that involves the co-repressors, Yox1 and Nrm1. Although this repression system is well known, the molecular mechanisms involved in MBF activation remain largely unknown. Compacted chromatin constitutes a barrier to activators accessing promoters. Here, we show that chromatin regulation plays a key role in activating MBF-dependent transcription. Gcn5, a part of the SAGA complex, binds to MBF-regulated promoters through the MBF co-activator Rep2 in a cell cycle-dependent manner and in a reverse correlation to the binding of the MBF co-repressors, Nrm1 or Yox1. We propose that the co-repressors function as physical barriers to SAGA recruitment onto MBF promoters. We also show that Gcn5 acetylates specific lysine residues on histone H3 in a cell cycle-regulated manner. Furthermore, either in a gcn5 mutant or in a strain in which histone H3 is kept in an unacetylated form, MBF-dependent transcription is downregulated. In summary, Gcn5 is required for the full activation and correct timing of MBF-regulated gene transcription.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e1004971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Génin ◽  
Frédérique Cuvelier ◽  
Sandrine Lambin ◽  
Josina Côrte-Real Filipe ◽  
Elodie Autrusseau ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (18) ◽  
pp. 4891-4905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santhi Pondugula ◽  
Daniel W. Neef ◽  
Warren P. Voth ◽  
Russell P. Darst ◽  
Archana Dhasarathy ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cells devote considerable resources to nutrient homeostasis, involving nutrient surveillance, acquisition, and storage at physiologically relevant concentrations. Many Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcripts coding for proteins with nutrient uptake functions exhibit peak periodic accumulation during M phase, indicating that an important aspect of nutrient homeostasis involves transcriptional regulation. Inorganic phosphate is a central macronutrient that we have previously shown oscillates inversely with mitotic activation of PHO5. The mechanism of this periodic cell cycle expression remains unknown. To date, only two sequence-specific activators, Pho4 and Pho2, were known to induce PHO5 transcription. We provide here evidence that Mcm1, a MADS-box protein, is essential for PHO5 mitotic activation. In addition, we found that cells simultaneously lacking the forkhead proteins, Fkh1 and Fkh2, exhibited a 2.5-fold decrease in PHO5 expression. The Mcm1-Fkh2 complex, first shown to transactivate genes within the CLB2 cluster that drive G2/M progression, also associated directly at the PHO5 promoter in a cell cycle-dependent manner in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Sds3, a component specific to the Rpd3L histone deacetylase complex, was also recruited to PHO5 in G1. These findings provide (i) further mechanistic insight into PHO5 mitotic activation, (ii) demonstrate that Mcm1-Fkh2 can function combinatorially with other activators to yield late M/G1 induction, and (iii) couple the mitotic cell cycle progression machinery to cellular phosphate homeostasis.


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