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The role of the G 1 period in the life cycle of eukaryotic cells
Author(s) -
Rao Potu N.,
SatyaPrakash K. L.,
Wang Yong Chao
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041190113
Subject(s) - period (music) , cell cycle , thymidine , cell synchronization , generation time , hela , biology , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cell , genetics , dna , medicine , physics , population , environmental health , acoustics
The objective of this study was to test the concept that the G 1 period lacks any specific function in the life cycle of mammalian cells and hence could be drastically reduced without any effect on the generation time. HeLa cells were grown in medium containing an optimum dose (60 μM) of hydroxyurea at which the duration of S period was prolonged with little or no increase in generation time. At this concentration of hydroxyurea, we observed a maximum of 3 h (or 28.5%) reduction in the G 1 period. We also studied the effects of synchronization in S phase by single and double thymidine blocks on cell size and its relationship to the duration of G 1 in the subsequent cycle. By these treatments, we could reduce the G 1 period by not more than 2 to 3 h. The reduction in G 1 period was not directly proportional to the size (volume) of the G 1 cells. These results suggest that G 1 period has certain specific functions and cannot be eliminated by alterations in culture conditions.