Cell cycle

In multicellular organism, It is required for

 Development from a fertilized cell
 Growth
 Repair
The centromere is the narrow “waist” of the duplicated chromosome, where the two chromatids
are most closely attached. Each duplicated chromosome has two sister chromatids, which
separate during cell division

Eukaryotic cell division consists of:

Mitosis, the division of the nucleus
 Cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm
 Gametes are produced by a variation of cell division called meiosis
Meiosis yields nonidentical daughter cells that have only one set of chromosomes, half as many
as the parent cell
 Interphase
 Mitosis
 Meiosis
Interphase
G1 Phase: extensive metabolic activity, normally grows in size, specific enzymes, DNA base
units accumulated. Length 6-12 hours.
Go phase. Postmitotic can enter here if it not destined to divide.
Synthesis phase: DNA is synthesized and chromosome number is doubled. Length 6-8 hours.
G2 phase: pre mitotic phase: preparing cell for division. Energy storage for chromosome
movements, mitosis specific proteins, RNA and microtubule subunits synthesis. Length 3-4
hours.
Checkpoints
• 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

•
• For many cells, the G1 checkpoint seems to be the most important one
• 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
• Two types of regulatory proteins are involved in cell cycle control: cyclins and cyclin-
dependent kinases (Cdks)
• Cyclins ( around 10 different cyclins present) are regulatory units while cdk (around
8 different cdk are present) is catalytic unit.
• The activity of cyclins and Cdks fluctuates during the cell cycle
• MPF (maturation-promoting factor) is a cyclin-Cdk complex that triggers a cell’s
passage past the G2 checkpoint into the M phase
Mitosis is conventionally divided into five phases:
Prophase
Prometaphase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Cytokinesis is well underway by late telophase
 • The mitotic spindle is an apparatus of microtubules that controls chromosome movement
during mitosis
• During prophase, assembly of spindle microtubules begins in the centrosome, the
microtubule organizing center
• The centrosome replicates, forming two centrosomes that migrate to opposite ends of the
cell, as spindle microtubules grow out from them
During prometaphase, some spindle microtubules attach to the kinetochores of chromosomes and
begin to move the chromosomes
At metaphase, the chromosomes are all lined up at the metaphase plate, the midway point
between the spindle’s two poles
• In anaphase, sister chromatids separate and move along the kinetochore microtubules
toward opposite ends of the cell
• The microtubules shorten by depolymerizing at their kinetochore ends
In animal cells, cytokinesis occurs by a process known as cleavage, forming a cleavage furrow
In plant cells, a cell plate forms during cytokinesis.
Gene
Each gene has a specific location called a locus on a certain chromosome.
Meiosis
Like mitosis, meiosis is preceded by the replication of chromosomes
Meiosis takes place in two sets of cell divisions, called meiosis I and meiosis II
The two cell divisions result in four daughter cells, rather than the two daughter cells in mitosis
Each daughter cell has only half as many chromosomes as the parent cell
• In the first cell division (meiosis I), homologous chromosomes separate
• Meiosis I results in two haploid daughter cells with replicated chromosomes; it is called
the reductional division
• In the second cell division (meiosis II), sister chromatids separate
• Meiosis II results in four haploid daughter cells with unreplicated chromosomes; it is
called the equational division

• Meiosis I is preceded by interphase, in which chromosomes are replicated to form sister

chromatids
 • The sister chromatids are genetically identical and joined at the centromere
• The single centrosome replicates, forming two centrosomes

Prophase I: Each homologous pair undergoes synapsis and crossing over between nonsister
chromatids.
 Leptotene: chromosomes visible, thick and came closer to eachother. Nucleus size
increases
 Zygytene: pairing started, forming synaptonemal complex. Tetrad formed.
 Pachytene: longest of all. Pairing completed non sister chromatid started exchanging
genetic material called crossing over.
  Diplotene: paired chromosome repel each other. But chiasmata attach two homologous
chromosomes.
 Diakinesis: condensation of chromosomes reaches to its maximum. Nucleoli disappears.
PrometaphaseI: chromosomes start binding to kinetochores.
Metaphase I: Chromosomes line up as homologous pairs on the metaphase plate.
Anaphase I: Homologs separate from each other; sister chromatids remain joined at the
centromere.