Synchronization of HeLa Cells to Mitotic Subphases. 2022

Ping Wee, and Richard C Wang, and Zhixiang Wang
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

The cell cycle is a series of events leading to cell replication. When plated at low cell densities in serum-containing medium, cultured cells start to proliferate, moving through the four phases of the cell cycle: G1, S, G2, and M. Mitosis is the most dynamic period of the cell cycle, involving a major reorganization of virtually all cell components. Mitosis is further divided into prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, which can be easily distinguished from one another by protein markers and/or comparing their chromosome morphology under fluorescence microscope. The progression of the cell cycle through these mitotic subphases is tightly regulated by complicated molecular mechanisms. Synchronization of cells to the mitotic subphases is important for understanding these molecular mechanisms. Here, we describe a protocol to synchronize Hela cells to prometaphase, metaphase, and anaphase/telophase. In this protocol, Hela cells are first synchronized to the early S phase by a double thymidine block. Following the release of the block, the cells are treated with nocodazole, MG132, and blebbistatin to arrest them at prometaphase, metaphase, and anaphase/telophase, respectively. Successful synchronization is assessed using Western blot and fluorescence microscopy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008677 Metaphase The phase of cell nucleus division following PROMETAPHASE, in which the CHROMOSOMES line up across the equatorial plane of the SPINDLE APPARATUS prior to separation.
D008938 Mitosis A type of CELL NUCLEUS division by means of which the two daughter nuclei normally receive identical complements of the number of CHROMOSOMES of the somatic cells of the species. M Phase, Mitotic,Mitotic M Phase,M Phases, Mitotic,Mitoses,Mitotic M Phases,Phase, Mitotic M,Phases, Mitotic M
D006367 HeLa Cells The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays. Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000705 Anaphase The phase of cell nucleus division following METAPHASE, in which the CHROMATIDS separate and migrate to opposite poles of the spindle. Anaphases
D013692 Telophase The final phase of cell nucleus division following ANAPHASE, in which two daughter nuclei are formed, the CYTOPLASM completes division, and the CHROMOSOMES lose their distinctness and are transformed into CHROMATIN threads. Telophases

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