Biomaterial Database

Studying G2 DNA damage checkpoints using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. 2011

Nicholas Willis, and Nicholas Rhind

Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. nwillis@bidmc.harvard.edu

Using synchronized cells, one can directly measure delay in mitosis brought about by the G2 DNA damage checkpoint in response to exposure to exogenous DNA damaging agents. Scoring mitosis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is relatively simple. Many techniques exist for synchronizing cells for such assays. We present a detailed explanation of the setup and use of centrifugal elutriation to synchronize cells in G2, exposure of cells to DNA damage, and measurement of mitotic progression and delay.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D004249	DNA Damage	Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.	DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D012568	Schizosaccharomyces	A genus of ascomycetous fungi of the family Schizosaccharomycetaceae, order Schizosaccharomycetales.	Fission Yeast,Schizosaccharomyces malidevorans,Schizosaccharomyces pombe,Yeast, Fission,S pombe,Fission Yeasts
D016195	G2 Phase	The period of the CELL CYCLE following DNA synthesis (S PHASE) and preceding M PHASE (cell division phase). The CHROMOSOMES are tetraploid in this point.	Gap Phase 2,Second Gap Phase,G2 Phases,Gap Phase, Second,Gap Phases, Second,Phase 2, Gap,Phase, G2,Phase, Second Gap,Phases, G2,Phases, Second Gap,Second Gap Phases