Use of low temperature for growth arrest and synchronization of human diploid fibroblasts

The growth kinetics of human diploid fibroblasts at two different temperatures were followed. Proliferation of exponentially growing cells is reduced and eventually stops upon incubation at low temperature (i.e. 30 degrees C). The cells which are in S phase at the time of switching to low temperature complete their DNA synthesis and become arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The arrested cells can be stimulated to proliferate by restoration of the optimal growth temperature (37 degrees C). The kinetics of entry into S phase were investigated by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into TCA-precipitable material, by autoradiography and by flow cytofluorimetry. The synchronized cells initiate DNA synthesis at approximately 8 h and DNA synthesis peaks at 20.4 +/- 0.7 h after stimulation. In addition, the rates of UV-induced excision repair at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C were compared. The results indicate that at 30 degrees C the excision-repair process is operative but at a slightly reduced rate in comparison with repair at 37 degrees C. This method will be useful for the study of S-phase-dependent processes, as well as for repair studies in the absence of cell division.