Cell Cycle
MELC
1. Characterize the phases of the cell cycle and their control
points. (STEM_BIO11/12-Id-f-6)
Cell Cycle
• Cell division is a very important
process in all living organisms.
• During the division of a cell, DNA
replication and cell growth also take
place.
• All these processes, i.e., cell
division, DNA replication, and cell
growth, must take place in a
coordinated way to ensure correct
division and formation of progeny
cells containing intact genomes.
Phases of Cell Cycle
• A typical eukaryotic cell cycle is
illustrated by human cells in culture
(Figure at the right).
• These cells divide once in
approximately every 24 hours
• However, this duration of cell cycle
can vary from organism to organism
and also from cell type to cell type.
• Yeast for example, can progress
through the cell cycle in only about
90 minutes.
Phases of Cell Cycle
• The cell cycle is divided into two
basic phases:
• Interphase • Preparation/resting stage
• 95% of the duration of
the cell cycle
• M Phase (Mitosis phase)
• Actual Cell Division
• Lasted about an hour
Phases of Cell Cycle
• The M Phase starts with the nuclear
division, corresponding to the
separation of daughter
chromosomes (karyokinesis) and
usually ends with division of
cytoplasm (cytokinesis).
• The interphase, though called the
resting phase, is the time during
which the cell is preparing for
division by undergoing both cell
growth and DNA replication in an
orderly manner.
Interphase
• The interphase is divided into three
further phases:
• G1 phase (Gap 1)
• S phase (Synthesis)
• G2 phase (Gap 2)
G1 Phase (Gap 1)
• G1 phase corresponds to the
interval between mitosis and
initiation of DNA replication.
• During G1 phase the cell is
metabolically active and
continuously grows but does not
replicate its DNA.
S Phase (Synthesis)
• S or synthesis phase marks the
period during which DNA synthesis
or replication takes place. During
this time, the amount of DNA per
cell doubles but the chromosome
number remains the same.
• DNA – 2N
• Chromosomes – remains the same
S Phase (Synthesis)
• In the S phase, the DNA in the cell's
nucleus is replicated. Each chromosome
is duplicated, resulting in two identical
sister chromatids connected by a
centromere.
• Despite the DNA replication, the
chromosome number remains the
same. This is because the sister
chromatids are considered as one
chromosome until they are separated
during the subsequent stages of cell
division.
G2 Phase (Gap 2)
• During the G2 phase, proteins are
synthesized in preparation for mitosis
while cell growth continues.
Important Events:
• DNA Repair and Preparation for Cell
Division
• Cell Growth and Protein Synthesis
• Checkpoint Control
• Preparation for Mitosis or Meiosis
M Phase (Mitosis Phase) for somatic cells
• This is the most dramatic period
of the cell cycle, involving a
major reorganization of virtually
all components of the cell.
• Since the number of
chromosomes in the parent and
progeny cells is the same, it is
also called as equational
division.
• In M phase, nucleus must be
divided in a process called
Karyokinesis (nuclear division)
The Cell Cycle Control System
• The cell cycle stops at several
checkpoints and can only
proceed if certain conditions
are met, for example, if the cell
has reached a certain diameter.
Types of Checkpoints:
• G1 Checkpoint
• G2 Checkpoint
• M Checkpoint
The Cell Cycle Control System
• The G1 Checkpoint—the Restriction Point,
The G1 checkpoint ensures that the cell is
large enough to divide and that enough
nutrients are available to support the
resulting daughter cells.
• This checkpoint assesses if the cell has the
necessary resources, growth factors, and
an undamaged genome to enter the S
phase. If the conditions are met, the cell
can progress to the S phase. If not, it may
enter a non-dividing state called G0 or
initiate repair mechanisms.
The Cell Cycle Control System
• The G2 Checkpoint—ensures that DNA
replication in S phase has been successfully
completed.
• This checkpoint confirms whether DNA
replication in the S phase has been
completed accurately and if there is any
DNA damage.
• If everything is in order, the cell can enter
mitosis. Otherwise, it may delay division
and repair the damage.
The Cell Cycle Control System
• The Metaphase
Checkpoint—ensures that
all of the chromosomes
are attached to the
mitotic spindle by a
kinetochore.
• The kinetochore is a
complex protein structure
that forms on the
centromere of a
chromosome.
The cell-cycle control system is based on oscillations in the
activities of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDK’s)
• The central components of the
cell-cycle control system are a
family of enzymes called the
cyclin-dependent kinases
(Cdks).
• Like other protein kinases,
Cdks catalyze the covalent
attachment of phosphate
groups derived from ATP to
protein substrates.
The cell-cycle control system is based on oscillations in the
activities of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDK’s)
• Cdk activities rise and fall as the cell
progresses through the cell cycle.
• Oscillations lead directly to cyclical
changes in the phosphorylation of
components of the cell-cycle
machinery, resulting in the initiation
of cell-cycle events.
• Thus, for example, an increase in Cdk
activity at the beginning of S phase
causes the phosphorylation of
proteins that then initiate DNA
synthesis.
The cell-cycle control system is based on oscillations in the
activities of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDK’s)
• Cdks are activated by binding to
regulatory proteins called cyclins.
• Different types of cyclins are
produced at different cell-cycle
phases, resulting in the periodic
formation of distinct cyclin–Cdk
complexes that trigger different cell-
cycle events.
Overview of Cell Cycle Control System thru CKD’s
Overview of Cell Cycle Control System thru CKD’s
