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Cell division

The heart of the cycle

Nature volume 432, pages 564–567 (2004)Cite this article

To reproduce, cells must copy their genetic material and distribute the replicas into two daughter cells. A self-perpetuating molecular oscillator regulates periodic transitions between these two processes.

Good things come to those who wait — a maxim that is as true for cells as it is elsewhere in life. Dividing cells must wait until their DNA is completely duplicated before they can segregate the replicas. They must also delay the next round of DNA replication until the copies are safely deposited in two newly born daughter cells. The order and completion of these events are crucial; otherwise, chromosomes become unstable, and cancer or premature ageing may result.

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Figure 1: The oscillations of the cell cycle.
Figure 2: A mystery solved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Biology, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark

    Jiri Lukas & Jiri Bartek

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  1. Jiri Lukas
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  2. Jiri Bartek
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Lukas, J., Bartek, J. The heart of the cycle. Nature 432, 564–567 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/432564a

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