Mammalian cells are not synchronized in G1-phase by starvation or inhibition: considerations of the fundamental concept of G1-phase synchronization.
Synchronization of mammalian cells by starvation-refeeding or by inhibition-release are among the most commonly used techniques for division cycle analysis. An alternative analysis--in the form of a Gedanken or thought experiment--is presented, casting doubt on the utility of this synchronization method. Arresting cell growth produces a culture where all cells contain a G1 amount of DNA. However, these cells are not arrested at a particular point in the G1-phase. Analysis of 'G1 arrested cells' suggests that, upon resumption of growth, the cells are not synchronized.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0620, USA. cooper@umich.edu
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D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D016193:G1 Phase; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice