Lecture 11 Cell Cycle

Cell cycle
Lecture 11
• In unicellular organisms, division of one cell reproduces the entire organism
• Multicellular eukaryotes depend on cell division for

• development from a fertilized egg
• growth
• repair
• Cell division is an integral part of the cell cycle, the life of a cell from
formation to its own division
© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

Distribution of Chromosomes During Eukaryotic Cell Division
• In preparation for cell division, DNA is replicated and the chromosomes condense
• Each duplicated chromosome has two sister chromatids (joined copies of the original
chromosome), attached along their lengths by cohesins
• During cell division, the two sister chromatids of each duplicated chromosome separate and
move into two nuclei
• Once separated, the chromatids are called chromosomes

• Eukaryotic cell division consists of
• mitosis, the division of the genetic material in the nucleus
• cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm
• Gametes are produced by a variation of cell division called meiosis
• Meiosis yields non-identical daughter cells that have half as many

chromosomes as the parent cell

Phases of the Cell Cycle
• The cell cycle consists of

• mitotic (M) phase (mitosis and cytokinesis)
• interphase (cell growth and copying of chromosomes in preparation for cell division)
• Interphase (about 90% of the cell cycle) can be divided into three phases:
• G1 phase (“first gap”)
• S phase (“synthesis”)
• G2 phase (“second gap”)

The cell grows during all three phases, but chromosomes are duplicated only during the S phase
The eukaryotic cell cycle is regulated by a
molecular control system
• The frequency of cell division varies with the type of cell
• These differences result from regulation at the molecular level
• The cell cycle appears to be driven by specific chemical signals present in the
cytoplasm
• Cancer cells manage to escape the usual controls on the cell cycle

• The sequential events of the cell cycle are directed by a distinct cell cycle control system,
which is similar to a clock
• The cell cycle control system is regulated by both internal and external controls
• The clock has specific checkpoints where the cell cycle stops until a go-ahead signal is
received

The Cell Cycle Clock: Cyclins and Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
• Two types of regulatory proteins are involved

in cell cycle control: cyclins and cyclin-
dependent kinases (Cdks)
• The activity of a Cdk rises and falls with

changes in concentration of its cyclin partner
• Expressions of cyclins depend on cell cycle

phases
• Cyclin D is expressed in response to mitogens

The Cell Cycle Clock: the role of pRb
Stop and Go Signs: Internal and External
Signals at the Checkpoints
• Many signals registered at checkpoints come from cellular surveillance

mechanisms within the cell
• Checkpoints also register signals from outside the cell
• For many cells, the G1 checkpoint seems to be the most important

• If a cell receives a go-ahead signal at the G1 checkpoint, it will usually
complete the S, G2, and M phases and divide
• If the cell does not receive the go-ahead signal, it will exit the cycle, switching
into a nondividing state called the G0 phase

• An example of an internal signal is that cells will not begin anaphase until all
chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle at the metaphase plate
• This mechanism ensures that daughter cells have the correct number of
chromosomes

• External factors that influence cell division include specific growth factors
• Growth factors are released by certain cells and stimulate other cells to
divide
• In density-dependent inhibition, crowded cells will stop dividing

• Most cells also exhibit anchorage dependence – to divide, they must be
attached to a substratum
• Density-dependent inhibition and anchorage dependence check the growth

of cells at an optimal density
• Cancer cells exhibit neither type of regulation of their division

Loss of Cell Cycle Controls in Cancer Cells
• Cancer cells do not respond normally to the body’s control mechanisms
• Cancer cells do not need growth factors to grow and divide:

• They may make their own growth factor
• They may convey a growth factor’s signal without the presence of the growth factor
• They may have an abnormal cell cycle control system
• Recent advances in understanding the cell cycle and cell cycle signaling have
led to advances in cancer treatment
• Coupled with the ability to sequence the DNA of cells in a particular tumor,
treatments are becoming more “personalized”

Lecture 11 Cell Cycle

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 11 Cell Cycle

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 11 Cell Cycle

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cell cycle

• Multicellular eukaryotes depend on cell division for

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• Gametes are produced by a variation of cell division called meiosis

• Meiosis yields non-identical daughter cells that have half as many

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• The cell cycle consists of

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• The frequency of cell division varies with the type of cell

• These differences result from regulation at the molecular level

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• Two types of regulatory proteins are involved

• The activity of a Cdk rises and falls with

• Expressions of cyclins depend on cell cycle

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• Many signals registered at checkpoints come from cellular surveillance

• For many cells, the G1 checkpoint seems to be the most important

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• In density-dependent inhibition, crowded cells will stop dividing

• Density-dependent inhibition and anchorage dependence check the growth

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

• Cancer cells do not respond normally to the body’s control mechanisms

• Cancer cells do not need growth factors to grow and divide:

© 2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

You might also like