Cell size is proportional to growth rate. Thus, cells growing rapidly in rich nutrients can be nearly twice the size of cells growing slowly in poor nutrients. This proportional relationship appears to hold across all orders of life, yet the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In budding yeast, most growth occurs during mitosis, and the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate is therefore enforced primarily by modulating growth in mitosis. When growth is slow, the duration of mitosis is increased to allow more time for growth, yet the amount of growth required to complete mitosis is reduced, which leads to the birth of small daughter cells. Previous studies have found that Rts1, a member of the conserved B56 family of protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunits, works in a TORC2 signaling network that influences cell size and growth rate. However, it was unclear whether Rts1 influences cell growth and size in mitosis. Here, we show that Rts1 is required for the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate during mitosis. Moreover, nutrients and Rts1 influence the duration and extent of growth in mitosis via Wee1 and Pds1/securin, two conserved regulators of mitotic progression. Together, the data are consistent with a model in which global signals that set growth rate also set the critical amount of growth required for cell cycle progression, which would provide a simple mechanistic explanation for the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate.

Cell size is proportional to growth rate. Thus, cells growing slowly in poor nutrients can be nearly half the size of cells growing rapidly in rich nutrients. The relationship between cell size and growth rate appears to hold across all orders of life, yet the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In budding yeast, most growth occurs during mitosis, and the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate is therefore enforced primarily by modulating growth in mitosis. When growth is slow, the duration of mitosis is increased to allow more time for growth, yet the amount of growth required to complete mitosis is reduced, leading to birth of small daughter cells. Previous studies found that PP2A associated with the Rts1 regulatory subunit (PP2A Rts1 ) works in a TORC2-dependent feedback loop that sets cell size and growth rate to match nutrient availability. However, it was unknown whether PP2A Rts1 influences growth in mitosis. Here, we show that PP2ARts1 is required for the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate during mitosis. Moreover, nutrients and PP2ARts1 influence the duration of mitosis, and thus the extent of growth in mitosis, via Wee1 and Pds1/securin, two conserved regulators of mitotic progression. Together, the data suggest a model in which the same global signals that set growth rate also set the critical amount of growth required for cell cycle progression, which would provide a simple mechanistic explanation for the proportional relationship between size and growth rate.