Control Points in the Chlamydomonas Cell Cycle

Abstract

Chlamydomonas has the crucial advantage, for genetic analysis of the cell cycle, of being haploid. The experimental convenience of being readily synchronised in division by alternating periods of light and dark, raises the question of how such synchrony arises and whether it indicates that the cell cycle in Chlamydomonas is fundamentally different from that of most eukaryotes. We have earlier argued that it is not fundamentally different (John 1984) and have proposed that at least a functional similarity exists between the “start” division control of yeasts (Nurse 1985) and the attainment of commitment to divide in Chlamydomonas. In this brief acount we include further evidence in support of these propositions.