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The Cell Cycle Control System

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...

Positive Regulator Molecules

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.

Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

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,...

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...

Negative Regulator Molecules

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Published on: June 6, 2017

Evolution of Complex Regulation for Cell-Cycle Control.

Samuel H A von der Dunk¹, Berend Snel, Paulien Hogeweg

¹Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Genome Biology and Evolution

|April 28, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Computational models show that cells adapt to new environments by expanding their genomes and regulatory networks. Diverse evolutionary paths lead to generalist or specialist strategies, highlighting contingency in evolution.

Keywords:

cell cycle complexity computational model generalism genome expansion in silico evolution

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Author Spotlight: Alignment of Synchronized Time-Series Data Using the Characterizing Loss of Cell Cycle Synchrony Model for Cross-Experiment Comparisons

Author Spotlight: Alignment of Synchronized Time-Series Data Using the Characterizing Loss of Cell Cycle Synchrony Model for Cross-Experiment Comparisons

Published on: June 9, 2023

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Author Spotlight: Alignment of Synchronized Time-Series Data Using the Characterizing Loss of Cell Cycle Synchrony Model for Cross-Experiment Comparisons

Author Spotlight: Alignment of Synchronized Time-Series Data Using the Characterizing Loss of Cell Cycle Synchrony Model for Cross-Experiment Comparisons

Published on: June 9, 2023

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Systems biology
Genomics

Background:

Genome size correlates with cellular regulatory capacity.
Understanding adaptive vs. neutral evolutionary forces is crucial for explaining genome expansion and cellular complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the interplay of adaptive and nonadaptive forces on genome and regulatory network evolution.
Model cell-cycle adaptation to varying environments using computational simulations.

Main Methods:

Utilized a computational model based on the Caulobacter crescentus network.
Performed ten replicate in silico evolution experiments simulating adaptation to harsh spatial habitats.
Analyzed evolutionary trajectories and resulting eco-evolutionary strategies.

Main Results:

Observed adaptive expansion of cellular regulatory repertoires.
Found that larger genomes, despite costs, improve cell-cycle behavior.
Identified diverse evolutionary outcomes: generalist (4 replicates), specialist (2 replicates), and intermediate (4 replicates) strategies.
Demonstrated the formation of de novo cell cycle checkpoints through gene positioning.

Conclusions:

Cellular functionality depends on the integration of regulatory network topology and genome organization.
Contingency plays a significant role in evolutionary trajectories under strong selective pressures.
Highlights the importance of multi-level organizational integration for understanding gene regulation evolution.