Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Visualization of Cell Cycle Variations and Determination of Nucleation in Postnatal Cardiomyocytes
09:41

Visualization of Cell Cycle Variations and Determination of Nucleation in Postnatal Cardiomyocytes

Published on: February 24, 2017

Cyclin A2 mediates cardiomyocyte mitosis in the postmitotic myocardium

Hina W Chaudhry1, Nurin H Dashoush, Haiying Tang

  • 1Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. hwc7@columbia.edu

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Cyclin A2 re-expression in adult hearts triggers cardiomyocyte cell division, leading to cardiac enlargement. This finding offers new avenues for treating cardiovascular disease through cardiomyocyte regeneration.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes normally withdraw from the cell cycle, limiting their proliferative capacity.
  • Stimulating cardiomyocyte division is crucial for cardiac regeneration and treating cardiovascular diseases.
  • Previous attempts to induce cardiomyocyte mitosis postnatally using cell cycle proteins have been unsuccessful.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cyclin A2 in cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration.
  • To determine if forced expression of cyclin A2 can induce cardiomyocyte mitosis in postnatal hearts.

Main Methods:

  • Constitutive expression of cyclin A2 in transgenic mice from embryonic day 8 into adulthood.
  • Analysis of cardiomyocyte hyperplasia and mitosis at various time points.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging to assess cardiac enlargement.

Main Results:

  • Constitutive cyclin A2 expression induced cardiac enlargement due to cardiomyocyte hyperplasia.
  • Increased cardiomyocyte mitosis was observed in transgenic hearts, particularly during postnatal development.
  • Mitotic stages correlated with nuclear localization of cyclin A2.

Conclusions:

  • Cyclin A2 plays a critical, previously unrecognized role in mediating cardiomyocyte mitosis.
  • Reactivating cyclin A2 in postnatal cardiomyocytes can induce proliferation.
  • This discovery holds significant potential for clinical strategies aimed at myocardial repair.

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiomyocyte DNA Synthesis and Ploidy: A Method to Assist Quantification of Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Turnover08:03

Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiomyocyte DNA Synthesis and Ploidy: A Method to Assist Quantification of Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Turnover

Published on: May 23, 2016

Experimental Approaches to Study Mitochondrial Localization and Function of a Nuclear Cell Cycle Kinase, Cdk113:15

Experimental Approaches to Study Mitochondrial Localization and Function of a Nuclear Cell Cycle Kinase, Cdk1

Published on: February 25, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Meiosis II02:02

Meiosis II

Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
Meiosis II01:57

Meiosis II

Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each containing...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.
Positive Regulator Molecules01:45

Positive Regulator Molecules

To consistently produce healthy cells, the cell cycle—the process that generates daughter cells—must be precisely regulated.
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...