Cyclic alteration of electrophoretic property associated with growth circle in HeLa S3 cells

Changes of electrical cell-surface charge associated with cell cycle were examined electrophoretically in the synchronous culture of HeLa S3 cells. The electrophoretic mobility of the cells increased abruptly in the mitotic phase as high as 45% compared with that of cells in the S phase. This difference of mobility was obtained by comparing pure population of mitotic cells and S-phase cells. Mitotic cells were also found to be more susceptible to neuraminidase than S-phase cells in term of electrophoretic mobility, a greater amount of sialic acid being correspondingly released from the former. The mechanism of the electrokinetic change associated with the processes of cell cycle is discussed, with special reference to the distribution of electric charge in the cell surface membrane.