Cell cycle acts as a relay station, connecting growth signalling networks with the initiation of DNA synthesis, and is therefore a potentially attractive therapeutic target. Assessing cell cycle distribution and proliferation is essential to study cell growth, differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. This helps to evaluate the underlying mechanisms, therapeutic efficacies of anticancer drugs and can be indicative of wider effects upon the cells, often used in the broader context or in conjunction with other target engagement assays.
Proliferating cells sequentially undergo transition through G1 – S – G2 and M phases, and under certain circumstances enter G0, as resting or quiescent state. During DNA damage, the progression of cell cycle is interrupted at certain checkpoints leading to failed chromosomal alignment and mitotic arrest or delays. These can be characterized at individual stages to exactly pinpoint disruption of the normal processes. o2h scientists can implement flow cytometry-based analysis to profile mitotic pathways and evaluate your compounds for cancer therapies. Whole-cell staining with propidium iodide (PI) and antibodies towards specific proteins or surface markers helps to concurrently analyse cellular characteristics within distinct cell populations G0/G1, S, and G2/M. The software helps to quantitatively determine phase distribution along with characteristics like ploidy, apoptosis, senescence, cell type etc.
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