Genetic control of the cell division cycle in yeast. II. Genes controlling DNA replication and its initiation

Temperature-sensitive mutations occurring in two unlinked complementation groups, cdc4 and cdc8, are recessive and result in a defect in DNA replication at the restrictive temperature. Results obtained with synchronous cultures suggest that cdc4 functions in the initiation of DNA replication and cdc8 functions in the propagation of DNA replication. From the behavior of mutant strains carrying lesions in cdc4, or in cdc8, or in both genes it is concluded that: (1) nuclear division and cell separation in yeast are dependent upon prior DNA replication; (2) a cellular clock controls bud initiation and the running of this clock is independent of the other events in the cycle, DNA replication, nuclear division and cell separation; (3) premature bud initiation is normally prevented as a consequence of the successful initiation of DNA replication.