Modelling Cell Growth and its Modulation of the G1/S Transition

Abstract

We present a model for the regulation of the G(1)/S transition by cell growth in budding yeast. The model includes a description of cell size, the extracellular nutrient concentration and a simplified model of the G(1)/S transition as originally reported by Chen et al. [Mol. Biol. Cell 11:369-391, 2000]. By considering cell growth proportional to cell size we show that the cell grows exponentially. In the case where cell growth is considered proportional to the concentration of a sizer protein within the cell, our model exhibits both exponential and linear cell growth for varying parameter values. The effects of varying nutrient concentration and initial cell size are considered in the context of whether progression through the cell-size checkpoint occurs. We consider our results in relation to recent experimental evidence and discuss possible experiments for testing our theoretical predictions.