The Cell Cycle

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Describe the cell cycle
  • Discuss the behavior of chromosomes during mitosis
  • Understand the process of cytokinesis
  • Define the quiescent G0 phase

The cell cycle is an ordered series of events involving cell growth and cell division producing two new daughter cells.  Precise timing and careful regulation are paramount to the ultimate objective of the cell cycle.  The cell cycle has two major phases: interphase and the mitotic phase (Figure 1). During interphase, the cell grows and DNA is replicated. During the mitotic phase, the replicated DNA and cytoplasmic contents are separated then the cell divides.

Like a clock, the cell cycles from interphase to the mitotic phase and back to interphase. Most of the cell cycle is spent in interphase, which is subdivided into G_{1}, S, and G_{2} phases. Cell growth occurs during G_{1}, DNA synthesis occurs during S, and more growth occurs during G_{2}. The mitotic phase consists of mitosis, in which the nuclear chromatin is divided, and cytokinesis, in which the cytoplasm is divided, resulting in two daughter cells.

Figure 1. The cell cycle consists of interphase and the mitotic phase. During interphase, the cell grows and the DNA is duplicated. Interphase is followed by the mitotic phase. During the mitotic phase, the duplicated chromosomes are segregated and distributed into daughter nuclei. The cytoplasm is usually divided resulting in two daughter cells.

Interphase

During interphase, the cell carries out its normal functions.  The organelles, discussed earlier, are all doing their “thing”.  But many internal and external conditions must be met in order for a cell to divide.  The three stages of interphase, called G1, S, and G2,  are to prepare the cell for this division.

G1 Phase(First Gap)

The first stage of interphase is called the G1 phase (first gap).  From a microscopic aspect, little change is visible. But during the G1 stage, the cell is quite active at the biochemical level.  Cell growth occurs and increased enzyme activity is noted.  Both of these are necessary for the later DNA synthesis and to continue into S phase.

S Phase (Synthesis)

Throughout interphase, nuclear DNA remains as semi-condensed chromatin. In the S phase, DNA replication moves forward forming identical pairs of DNA molecules(sister chromatids) firmly held by their centromere.  The centrosome is duplicated during the S phase. This will give rise to the mitotic spindle, an apparatus needed to move the chromosomes during mitosis.  Centrioles, at right angles to each other within the centrosome, help organize cell division.  Plants cells do proceed with cell division even though they do not possess centrioles.

G2 Phase (Second Gap)

During G2,  the cell replenishes its energy supply and synthesizes proteins needed throughout mitosis. Some cell organelles are duplicated and the cytoskeleton is dismantled.  Additional growth occurs during G2. The final preparations for the mitotic phase must be completed before the cell is able to enter mitosis.

The Mitotic Phase

Mitosis is a multistep process during which the duplicated chromosomes are aligned, separated, and moved into two new, identical daughter cells.  Nuclear division is the primary occurrence during the majority of mitosis.  Cytokinesis, the physical separation of the cytoplasmic components, completes mitosis.

Karyokinesis (Mitosis)

Karyokinesis, also known as mitosis, is divided into a series of phases:  prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase resulting in the division of the cell nucleus (Figure 2).

Art Connection

This diagram shows the five phases of mitosis and cytokinesis. During prophase, the chromosomes condense and become visible, spindle fibers emerge from the centrosomes, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the nucleolus disappears. During prometaphase, the chromosomes continue to condense and kinetochores appear at the centromeres. Mitotic spindle microtubules attach to the kinetochores, and centrosomes move toward opposite poles. During metaphase, the mitotic spindle is fully developed, and centrosomes are at opposite poles of the cell. Chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate and each sister chromatid is attached to a spindle fiber originating from the opposite pole. During anaphase, the cohesin proteins that were binding the sister chromatids together break down. The sister chromatids, which are now called chromosomes, move toward opposite poles of the cell. Non-kinetochore spindle fibers lengthen, elongating the cell. During telophase, chromosomes arrive at the opposite poles and begin to decondense. The nuclear envelope reforms. During cytokinesis in animals, a cleavage furrow separates the two daughter cells. In plants, a cell plate separates the two cells.

Figure 2. Karyokinesis (or mitosis) is divided into five stages—prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The pictures at the bottom were taken by fluorescence microscopy:  blue fluorescence indicates DNA (chromosomes) and green fluorescence indicates microtubules (spindle apparatus). (credit “mitosis drawings”): modification of work by Mariana Ruiz Villareal; credit “micrographs”: modification of work by Roy van Heesbeen; credit “cytokinesis micrograph”: Wadsworth Center/New York State Department of Health; scale-bar data from Matt Russell)

Prophase,  the “first phase,” is stage where notable physical changes occur.  The nuclear envelope begins to fragment and disappear.  The nucleolus disappears or disperses.  The spindle begins its extension between the centrosomes, pushing them farther apart as the fibers lengthen. The centrosomes/centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell.  And just visible under a light microscope, the sister chromatids are coiled more tightly.  Their movement is the important event during cell division.

This illustration shows two sister chromatids. Each has a kinetochore at the centromere, and mitotic spindle microtubules radiate from the kinetochore.

Figure 3. During prometaphase, mitotic spindle microtubules from opposite poles attach to each sister chromatid at the kinetochore. In anaphase, the connection between the sister chromatids breaks down, and the microtubules pull the chromosomes toward opposite poles.

During prometaphase, many processes that began in prophase continue to advance. There is more nuclear envelope fragmenting. The mitotic spindle continues developing.  Chromosomes become more condensed and discrete. Each sister chromatid develops a protein structure called a kinetochore near the centromere(Figure 3). The kinetochore attracts and binds to mitotic spindle microtubules. As the spindle microtubules extend from the centrosomes, some come into contact and bind to the kinetochores. Once a mitotic fiber attaches to a chromosome, the chromosome will be oriented until the kinetochores of sister chromatids face the opposite poles.

Metaphase, the “change phase,”  is where all the chromosomes are aligned along the metaphase plate, midway between the two poles of the cell.  The spindle apparatus is fully formed.

In anaphase, the “upward phase,” the sister chromatids separate at the centromere. Each chromatid, now called a chromosome, is pulled rapidly toward the centrosome to which its microtubule is attached. The cell becomes visibly elongated (oval shaped).

During telophase, the “distance phase,” is where chromosomes reach the opposite poles and begin to unravel and relax into chromatin.  The spindle apparatus begins to disappear.  Nuclear envelopes and nucleoli return.

Cytokinesis

Part a: This illustration shows cytokinesis in a typical animal cell. Part b: Cytokinesis is shown in a typical plant cell. In an animal cell, a contractile ring of actin filaments forms a cleavage furrow that divides the cell in two. In a plant cell, Golgi vesicles coalesce at the metaphase plate. A cell plate grows from the center outward, and the vesicles form a plasma membrane that divides the cytoplasm.

Figure 4. During cytokinesis in animal cells, a ring of actin filaments forms at the metaphase plate. The ring contracts, forming a cleavage furrow, which divides the cell.  In plant cells, Golgi vesicles fuse at the former metaphase plate.  A cell plate, formed by the fusion of the vesicles, grows from the center toward the cell walls.  The vesicle membranes fuse to form a plasma membrane that divides the cell.

Cytokinesis, or “cell motion,” is  the physical separation of the cytoplasmic components into two daughter cells. Division is not complete until the cell components have been dispersed and completely separated into the two daughter cells.

In cells that lack cell walls(animal), cytokinesis follows the onset of anaphase. A contractile ring of actin filaments forms just inside the plasma membrane at the former metaphase plate. The actin filaments pull the equator of the cell inward, forming a “crack,” called the cleavage furrow. Contraction of the ring continues, deepening the furrow, until the membrane separates(Figure 4).

In plant cells, a new cell wall forms between the daughter cells.  During telophase,  Golgi vesicles are transported on microtubules to the metaphase plate.  The vesicles fuse and from the center toward the cell walls forming the cell plate. As more vesicles fuse, the cell plate enlarges until it merges with the cell walls.  Enzymes use the glucose that has accumulated between the membrane layers to build a new cell wall. The Golgi membranes become parts of the plasma membrane on either side of the new cell wall (Figure 4).

G0 Phase

Not all cells adhere to the classic cell cycle pattern.  Cells in G0 phase are not actively preparing for division. The cell is in a quiescent (inactive) stage that occurs when cells exit the cell cycle. Some cells enter G0 temporarily until an external signal triggers continuation. Others, such as mature cardiac muscle and nerve cells, remain in G0 permanently and never or rarely divide.

Scientific Method Connection

Determine the Time Spent in Cell Cycle Stages

Problem: How long does a cell spend in interphase compared to each stage of mitosis?

Background: A prepared microscope slide of blastula cross-sections will show cells arrested in various stages of the cell cycle. It is not visually possible to separate the stages of interphase from each other, but the mitotic stages are readily identifiable. If 100 cells are examined, the number of cells in each identifiable cell cycle stage will give an estimate of the time it takes for the cell to complete that stage.

Problem Statement: Given the events included in all of interphase and those that take place in each stage of mitosis, estimate the length of each stage based on a 24-hour cell cycle. Before proceeding, state your hypothesis.

Test your hypothesis: Test your hypothesis by doing the following:

  1. Place a fixed and stained microscope slide of whitefish blastula cross-sections under the scanning objective of a light microscope.
  2. Locate and focus on one of the sections using the scanning objective of your microscope. Notice that the section is a circle composed of dozens of closely packed individual cells.
  3. Switch to the low-power objective and refocus. With this objective, individual cells are visible.
  4. Switch to the high-power objective and slowly move the slide left to right, and up and down to view all the cells in the section (Figure 5). As you scan, you will notice that most of the cells are not undergoing mitosis but are in the interphase period of the cell cycle.
    Left: This figure shows an illustration of whitefish blastula cells with a scanning pattern from right to left, and from top to bottom.

    Figure 5.  Slowly scan whitefish blastula cells with the high-power objective as illustrated in image (a) to identify their mitotic stage. (b) A microscopic image of the scanned cells is shown. (credit “micrograph”: modification of work by Linda Flora; scale-bar data from Matt Russell)

  5. Practice identifying the various stages of the cell cycle, using the drawings of the stages as a guide (Figure 2).
  6. Once you are confident about your identification, begin to record the stage of each cell you encounter as you scan left to right, and top to bottom across the blastula section.
  7. Keep a tally of your observations and stop when you reach 100 cells identified.
  8. The larger the sample size (total number of cells counted), the more accurate the results. If possible, gather and record group data prior to calculating percentages and making estimates.

Record your observations: Make a table similar to Table 1 in which you record your observations.

Results of Cell Stage Identification
Phase or Stage Individual Totals Group Totals Percent
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Cytokinesis
Totals 100 100 100 percent

Table 1

Analyze your data/report your results: To find the length of time whitefish blastula cells spend in each stage, multiply the percent (recorded as a decimal) by 24 hours. Make a table similar to Table to illustrate your data.

Estimate of Cell Stage Length
Phase or Stage Percent (as Decimal) Time in Hours
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Cytokinesis

Draw a conclusion: Did your results support your estimated times? Were any of the outcomes unexpected? If so, discuss which events in that stage might contribute to the calculated time.

Section Summary

The cell cycle is an very, orderly sequence of events. Cells on the path to cell division proceed through a series of precisely timed and carefully regulated stages. In eukaryotes, the cell cycle consists of a long preparatory period, called interphase. Interphase is divided into G1, S, and G2 phases. The mitotic phase begins with karyokinesis (mitosis), consisting of stages: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Cytokinesis involves the physical separation of the cytoplasmic contents.  Daughter cells are separated either by an actin ring (animal cells) or by cell plate formation (plant cells).

Additional Self Check Questions

1. Which of the following is the correct order of events in mitosis?  (a)  Chromosomes align on the metaphase plate.  (b)  Cleavage furrowing separates the cell into two parts.  (c)  Nucleolus and nuclear envelope disappear.  (d)  The cell elongates as chromosomes are pulled to opposite poles.

2. Briefly describe the events that occur in each phase of interphase.

3. Describe the differences between the cytokinesis mechanisms in animal and plant cells.

4. List some reasons why a cell that has just completed cytokinesis might enter the G0 phase instead of the G1 phase.

Answers

1.  c,a,d,b

2.   During G1, the cell increases in size and the cell stockpiles energy reserves for later.  During the S phase, the chromosomes, the centrosomes, and the centrioles (animal cells) duplicate. During the G2 phase, the cell continues to grow, duplicates some organelles, and dismantles other organelles.

3.  In animal cells, a ring of actin fibers is formed at the former metaphase plate (cleavage furrow). The actin ring contracts inward, pulling the plasma membrane toward the center of the cell until the cell is pinched in two. In plant cells, a new cell wall must be formed between the daughter cells.  A cell plate is formed in the center of the cell at the former metaphase plate. The cell plate is formed from Golgi vesicles.  The vesicles fuse building a new cell wall.  The cell plate grows toward and eventually fuses with the cell wall of the parent cell.
4. Many cells temporarily enter G0 until they reach maturity. Some cells are only triggered to enter G1 when the organism needs to increase that particular cell type. Some cells only reproduce following an injury to the tissue. Some cells never divide once they reach maturity

Glossary

anaphase: stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are separated from each other

cell cycle: ordered series of events involving cell growth and cell division that produces two new daughter cells

cell plate: structure formed during plant cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles,  fusing at the metaphase plate; ultimately leads to the formation of cell walls that separate the two daughter cells

centriole: rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome

cleavage furrow: constriction formed by an actin ring during cytokinesis in animal cells that leads to cytoplasmic division

cytokinesis: division of the cytoplasm following mitosis that forms two daughter cells.

G0 phase: distinct from the G1 phase of interphase; a cell in G0 is not preparing to divide

G1 phase: (also, first gap) first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis

G2 phase: (also, second gap) third phase of interphase during which the cell undergoes final preparations for mitosis

interphase: period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2 phases (the interim period between two consecutive cell divisions

karyokinesis: mitotic nuclear division

kinetochore: protein structure associated with the centromere of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase

metaphase plate: equatorial plane midway between the two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase

metaphase: stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are aligned at the metaphase plate

mitosis: (also, karyokinesis) period of the cell cycle during which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase

mitotic phase: period of the cell cycle during which duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes karyokinesis (mitosis) and cytokinesis

mitotic spindle: apparatus composed of microtubules that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis

prometaphase: stage of mitosis during which the nuclear membrane breaks down and mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores

prophase: stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle begins to form

quiescent: refers to a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell division

S phase: second, or synthesis, stage of interphase during which DNA replication occurs

telophase: stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by a new nuclear envelope