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15: Cell Cycle

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    16190

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    Cells, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic, eventually reproduce or die.

    • 15.1: The Prokaryotic Cell Cycle
      This page discusses prokaryotic cell reproduction, highlighting its simplicity due to a lack of internal organelles. The process involves growth, chromosomal replication, and separation (B, C, and D periods). Growth duration varies with environmental conditions, while DNA replication starts at the chromosome's origin, with similarities between bacteria and archaea.
    • 15.2: The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle
      This page outlines the reproductive cycle of eukaryotic cells, which consists of the G1, S, G2, and M phases. The G1 phase is dedicated to growth, while the S phase involves DNA replication. G2 serves as a preparatory stage before mitosis, which encompasses nuclear division and cytokinesis. Checkpoints throughout the cycle are crucial for assessing cell size and DNA integrity, thus preventing the emergence of dysfunctional or cancerous daughter cells.
    • 15.3: Controlling the Cell Cycle
      This page covers cell cycle regulation checkpoints: G1/S, G2/M, and metaphase/anaphase transition, which ensure proper cell division and DNA integrity. It emphasizes the roles of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks), particularly cyclin B and cdc2. The page references key experiments by Masui and Markert that led to the discovery of maturation promoting factor (MPF) and subsequent studies in yeast connecting cdc2 to mitosis control, highlighting its function as a kinase.
    • 15.4: Activation and inactivation of the cyclin-cdk complex
      This page explains the regulation of the cell cycle via the mitotic cyclin/cdk complex, detailing the roles of the cdc25 and wee1 genes as regulators of cdks. It notes that mutations in these genes affect cell size and function. The activation of cdk is linked to phosphorylation events, while MPF self-regulates by initiating its destruction through the anaphase promoting complex, which targets cyclins for degradation, thus enabling proper cell cycle progression.
    • 15.5: Pre-mitotic Phases
      This page outlines the cell cycle's G1, S, and G2 phases. In G1, cells grow and prepare for division, regulated by cyclin D/E and cdks. The S phase is when DNA replication occurs, guided by cyclin A/cdk2. G2 focuses on verifying DNA integrity before mitosis, with cyclin B/cdk1 activating the transition to the M phase. The entire process includes checks for DNA fidelity and favorable conditions for division.
    • 15.6: Mitosis
      This page outlines the process of mitosis, detailing its stages: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. It explains the importance of DNA condensation, chromosome alignment, and tension for accurate cell division. Key players like MPF and the anaphase-promoting complex are highlighted for their roles in chromatid separation. The mechanics of cytokinesis vary between animal cells, which use a contractile ring, and plant cells, which form a cell plate.
    • 15.7: Cell Death
      This page explores two types of cell death: apoptosis, a regulated process characterized by cell shrinkage and cleanup by phagocytes, and necrosis, which is uncontrolled and leads to cell swelling and debris. Apoptosis plays crucial roles in development and protection, removing excess and damaged cells to prevent cancer and support healthy organism development.
    • 15.8: Meiosis
      This page covers mitosis and meiosis in metazoans, emphasizing meiosis for gamete formation with half genetic material. It contrasts diploid somatic cells with haploid gametes and details meiosis' two divisions, including prophase I's recombination and the synaptonemal complex. It compares oogenesis and spermatogenesis, pointing out egg asymmetry and equal sperm division.

    Thumbnail: Life cycle of the cell. (CC BY-SA 4.0; BruceBlaus).

    This page titled 15: Cell Cycle is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by E. V. Wong via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.