A mathematical model for cell size control in fission yeast

Experimental investigations of cell size control in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have illustrated that the cell cycle features ‘sizer’ and ‘timer’ phases which are distinguished by a growth rate changing point. Based on current biological knowledge of fission yeast size control, we propose here a model of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for a possible explanation of the facts and control mechanism which is coupled with the cell cycle. Simulation results of the ODE model are demonstrated to agree with experimental data for the wild type and the cdc2-33 mutant. We show that the coupling of cell growth to cell division by translational control may account for observed properties of size control in fission yeast. As the translational control in the expression of cycle proteins Cdc13 and Cdc25 constructs positive feedback loops, the dynamical activities of the key components undergoes a rapid rising after a preliminary stage of slow increase. The coupling of this dynamical behavior to the elongation of the cell naturally gives rise to a rate change point and to ‘sizer’ and ‘timer’ phases, which characterize the cell cycle of fission yeast.