Cell Cycle

Regulation and Cell

Division
The Cell Cycle
 The Cell Cycle and Its
Regulation
• The cell cycle includes all events in the life of a cell. The progression
of the cell through the stages of its life is regulated by a variety of
internal and external cues that are assessed at different checkpoints
throughout the cell cycle.
• Internal factors, such as cell size, growth hormone levels, and the
concentration of the cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclins and cyclin-
dependent kinases (CDKs), and external factors, such as cell-
crowding or the death of nearby cells, either promote or inhibit the
progression of the cell through its life cycle.
• Additionally, tumor suppressor proteins prevent cells with damage to
the genes coding for cell cycle regulatory proteins from dividing. If
these damaged cells are not destroyed, they divide uncontrollably,
resulting in cancer.
The Cell Cycle
 Phases of the Cell Cycle
• The cell cycle is divided into two main phases:
• Interphase (the time between divisions)
• M-phase (the time of nuclear and cytoplasmic division)
 Interphase and Its
Checkpoints
• The cell spends most of its life in interphase, the
longest phase of the cell cycle. During interphase, the
cell’s DNA is in a thin, stringy form called chromatin.
 Interphase and Its
Checkpoints
• Interphase consists of three stages and two cell cycle
regulation checkpoints.
• Gap 1 (G1): growth, normal functioning
• G1 Checkpoint: verifies cell size, checks DNA for damage
before it is copied
• Synthesis (S): DNA replication
• Gap 2 (G2): additional growth, preparation for cell
division
• G2 Checkpoint: checks replicated DNA for damage, verifies
all chromosomes have been copied prior to division
Interphase Checkpoints
 M Phase and Its
Checkpoint
• M Phase is phase of the cell cycle in which the cell
divides. During M Phase the form of DNA varies:
• Duplicated Chromosomes (prophase, and metaphase)
• Single Chromatids (anaphase, early telophase)
• Chromatin (late telophase, cytokinesis)
 M Phase and Its
Checkpoint
• M Phase includes 2 stages and 1 check point:
• Mitosis: the division of the nucleus
• M Checkpoint: verifies chromosome spindle fiber
attachment during metaphase

• Cytokinesis: the division of the cytoplasm

M Phase (Cell Division)
 M Phase: Mitosis
• Mitotic cell division is vital for growth and tissue repair.

• Mitosis is responsible for maintaining the diploid (2n)

chromosome number of body cells in an organism.
During mitosis, the chromosome number does not
change from one generation of cells to the next
because the chromosomes are duplicated before the
cell divides.
• Each dividing parent cell will produce two genetically
identical daughter cells.
 M Phase: Mitosis

• Mitosis is divided into four phases:

• Prophase
• Metaphase
• Anaphase
• Telophase
 Prophase
• The longest stage of mitosis

• The chromatin condense

and chromosomes become
visible

• The nuclear membrane and

nucleolus break down

• Centrioles move to opposite

sides of the animal cell

• Spindle fibers form

 Metaphase

• Chromosomes line
up along the equator
of the cell (middle)
• The centromere of
each chromosome
attaches to a spindle
fiber
 Anaphase
• The centromeres split
and the sister
chromatids separate
• The spindle fibers pull
the chromatids away
from each other to
opposite poles (ends) of
the cell
 Telophase
• Two distinct nuclei form in opposite ends of the cell

• The spindle fibers disappear

• The chromosomes uncoil back into chromatin form

• The nuclear membrane and nucleolus reappear

• Cytokinesis begins
 M Phase: Cytokinesis

Animal Cell Plant Cell

• The cytoplasm pinches • A cell plate form to
in to form a cleavage separates the newly formed
furrow nuclei. The cell plate
develops into the cell wall.