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Cell Cycle

The cell cycle is the regulatory network that controls the order and timing of cellular proliferation events. It is divided into four stages, G₁-S-G₂-M. The G₁ and G₂ stages stand for 'GAP 1' and 'GAP 2' respectively. The S stage stands for 'Synthesis' and is the stage when DNA replication occurs. The M stage stands for 'mitosis', and is when nuclear and cytoplasmic division occurs, halving of the genome.

Cell Cycle Product Areas

Cell Cycle Regulation

There are three major regulatory cell cycle checkpoints - at the G₁/S boundary, in the S-phase and during G₂/M phases. A cell can only pass through these checkpoints in the presence of stimulatory signals and in the absence of DNA damage. If DNA damage cannot be repaired the cell is eliminated through apoptosis. Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), along with cyclins, are major control switches at these checkpoints. They are central to cell cycle control; their activation via cyclin mediates progression through all four phases of the cell cycle.

p53 is a protein that functions to block the cell cycle if the DNA is damaged. If the damage is severe this protein can cause apoptosis. p53 levels are increased in damaged cells, blocking the cell cycle and allowing time for DNA repair to occur.

Cell Cycle and Cancer

Mutations in proteins controlling the cell cycle can lead to uncontrolled cell division, resulting in cancer - a disease where regulation of the cell cycle goes awry and normal cell growth and behavior is lost. A p53 mutation is the most frequent mutation leading to cancer. Understanding the processes and signalling pathways involved in the cell cycle has thus become the focus of intense interest in anticancer research.

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