Cell cycle-independent integration of stress signals by Xbp1 promotes Non-G1/G0 quiescence entry

Cellular quiescence is a nonproliferative state required for cell survival under stress and during development. In most quiescent cells, proliferation is stopped in a reversible state of low Cdk1 kinase activity; in many organisms, however, quiescent states with high-Cdk1 activity can also be established through still uncharacterized stress or developmental mechanisms. Here, we used a microfluidics approach coupled to phenotypic classification by machine learning to identify stress pathways associated with starvation-triggered high-Cdk1 quiescent states in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that low- and high-Cdk1 quiescent states shared a core of stress-associated processes, such as autophagy, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial upregulation, but differed in the nuclear accumulation of the stress transcription factors Xbp1, Gln3, and Sfp1. The decision between low- or high-Cdk1 quiescence was controlled by cell cycle-independent accumulation of Xbp1, which acted as a timedelayed integrator of the duration of stress stimuli. Our results show how cell cycle-independent stress-activated factors promote cellular quiescence outside G1/G0.

Automated summary

Cellular quiescence is a nonproliferative state that allows cell survival under stress and during development. This study investigates the stress pathways associated with high-Cdk1 quiescent states triggered by starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is found that both low- and high-Cdk1 quiescent states involve stress-associated processes, but differ in the nuclear accumulation of stress transcription factors. The decision between low- or high-Cdk1 quiescence is controlled by cell cycle-independent accumulation of Xbp1.