Control of meiotic entry by dual inhibition of a key mitotic transcription factor

SUMMARY The mitosis to meiosis transition requires dynamic changes in gene expression, but whether and how the mitotic transcriptional machinery is regulated during this transition is unknown. In budding yeast, SBF and MBF transcription factors initiate the mitotic gene expression program. Here, we report two mechanisms that work together to restrict SBF activity during meiotic entry: repression of the SBF-specific Swi4 subunit through LUTI-based regulation and inhibition of SBF by Whi5, a functional homolog of the Rb tumor suppressor. We find that untimely SBF activation causes downregulation of early meiotic genes and delays meiotic entry. These defects are largely driven by the SBF-target G1 cyclins, which block the interaction between the central meiotic regulator Ime1 and its cofactor Ume6. Our study provides insight into the role of SWI4 LUTI in establishing the meiotic transcriptional program and demonstrates how the LUTI-based regulation is integrated into a larger regulatory network to ensure timely SBF activity. HIGHLIGHTS SBF subunit Swi4 is downregulated at meiotic entry by the LUTI-based mechanism SWI4 LUTI and Whi5 work together to inhibit SBF at meiotic entry SBF and Ime1 TFs antagonize each other, ensuring mutually exclusive cell states SBF-target G1 cyclins block meiosis by preventing Ime1-Ume6 interaction