Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) mutations that prevent entry into the mitotic cell cycle of budding yeast fail to block meiotic DNA replication, suggesting there may be fundamental differences between these pathways. However, 5 phase in meiosis was found to depend on the same B-type cyclins (Clb5 and Clb6) as it does in mitosis. Meiosis differs instead in the mechanism that controls removal of the Cdk inhibitor Sic1. Destruction of Sic1 and activation of a Clb5-dependent kinase in meiotic cells required the action of the meiosis-specific protein kinase Ime2, thereby coupling early meiotic gene expression to control of DNA replication for meiosis.