The CDK5 Orthologue Pef1 Cooperates with Three Cyclins, Clg1, Pas1 and Psl1, to Promote Pre-Meiotic DNA Replication.

Meiosis is a specialized cell division process that mediates genetic information transfer to the next generation. Meiotic chromosomal segregation occurs when DNA replication is completed during the pre-meiotic S phase. Here, we show that Pef1, an orthologue of mammalian cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), is required to promote pre-meiotic DNA replication. We examined the efficiency of meiotic initiation using mutants and found that, meiotic nuclear divisions did not occur in the strain. Deletion of also suppressed the expression of DNA replication factors and the phosphorylation of Cdc2 Tyr-15. The double deletion of and arrested meiotic initiation in mutant cells, similar to that of -deficient cells. Meiotic progression was also slightly delayed in the -deficient strain. Our results reveal that Pef1 regulates cyclin-coordinated meiotic progression.