Hym1p affects cell cycle progression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae HYM1 gene is conserved among eukaryotes. The mammalian orthologue (called MO25) mediates signaling through the AMP-activated protein kinase and other related kinases, implicated in cell proliferation. In yeast, Hym1p plays a role in cellular morphogenesis and also promotes the daughter cell-specific localization of the Ace2p transcription factor. Here, we report that increased dosage of HYM1 apparently shortens the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In the absence of HYM1 or ACE2, mother and daughter cells divide with the same generation times. Genetic analysis of HYM1, ACE2 and CLN3 mutants suggests that these genes together contribute to the establishment of asynchronous mother-daughter cell divisions, but probably not in a linear pathway. Our overall data suggest that Hym1p has a regulatory role in cell cycle progression.