Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells
12:19

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

Published on: January 21, 2012

Genes specifically expressed at growth arrest of mammalian cells

C Schneider1, R M King, L Philipson

  • 1European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.

Cell
|September 9, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified growth-arrest-specific (gas) genes in cells. These genes’ RNA levels decrease when cells start growing again, and they are not expressed in cells with viral oncogenes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cell cycle regulation is crucial for normal development and disease prevention.
  • Identifying genes that control cell growth arrest is key to understanding cancer biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize genes specifically expressed in growth-arrested cells.
  • To investigate the regulation and expression patterns of these growth-arrest-specific genes.

Main Methods:

  • Subtraction cDNA library construction to isolate unique RNA sequences.
  • Differential screening to identify clones expressed in growth-arrested cells.
  • Northern blot analysis and in vitro translation for gene characterization.

Main Results:

  • Six cDNA clones representing growth-arrest-specific (gas) genes were identified.
  • GAS gene mRNA levels decreased with varying kinetics upon serum-induced cell growth.
  • Two specific gas genes were not expressed in viral oncogene-transformed cell lines.
  • Full-length cDNA sequencing and preliminary protein characterization of one gas gene were performed.

Conclusions:

  • Identified novel genes specifically linked to the growth arrest state in mammalian cells.
  • Demonstrated differential regulation of these genes in response to growth stimuli and oncogenic transformation.
  • These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms governing cell cycle control.

More Related Videos

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

An Optogenetic Method to Control and Analyze Gene Expression Patterns in Cell-to-cell Interactions07:59

An Optogenetic Method to Control and Analyze Gene Expression Patterns in Cell-to-cell Interactions

Published on: March 22, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation02:36

Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation02:36

Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
Gene Regulation During Sporulation01:17

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...