Regulation of DNA synthesis: age-dependent cooperation among G1 cells upon fusion

The object of this study was to determine whether the inducer(s) of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells accumulates gradually throughout the G1 period or becomes available suddenly at the G1-S transition. HeLa cells, synchronized at various points in the G1 period, were fused by using UV-inactivated Sendai virus. Early G1 cells were fused with mid-G1 or late G1 cells and late G1 cells were fused with mid-G1 cells. The G1 traverse of mono-, bi-, and trinucleated cells was studied. The bi- and trinucleated cells of mid-G1 and late G1 parents traversed the G1 period significantly faster than did their mononucleated counterparts. The reduction in the duration of the G1 period was proportional to the number and age of nuclei at the time of fusion. There was no significant difference between the mono- and binucleated cells of the early G1 parent in their rates of entry into S period. In light of these findings, a model is proposed in which the inducer(s) of DNA synthesis accumulates gradually throughout the G1 period, reaching a critical level at the G1-S boundary when DNA replication is initiated; after reaching a peak during early or mid-S period, it declines to below the critical level when DNA synthesis ceases.