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Synchronization of cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using a cell chip platform

  • Published:
Molecules and Cells

Abstract

Cell synchrony is a critical requirement for the study of eukaryotic cells. Although several chemical and genetic methods of cell cycle synchronization are currently available, they have certain limitations, such as unnecessary perturbations to cells. We developed a novel cell cycle synchronization method that is based on a cell chip platform. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a simple but useful model system to study cell biology and shares many similar features with higher eukaryotic cells. Single yeast cells were individually captured in the wells of a specially designed cell chip platform. When released from the cell chip, the yeast cells were synchronized, with all cells in the G1 phase. This method is non-invasive and causes minimal chemical and biological damage to cells. The capture and release of cells using cells chips with microwells of specific dimensions allows for the isolation of cells of a particular size and shape; this enables the isolation of cells of a given phase, because the size and shape of yeast cells vary with the phase of the cell cycle. To test the viability of synchronized cells, the yeast cells captured in the cell chip platform were assessed for response to mating pheromone (α-factor). The synchronized cells isolated using the cell chip were capable of mediating the mating signaling response and exhibited a dynamic and robust response behavior. By changing the dimensions of the well of the cell chip, cells of other cell cycle phases can also be isolated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Jae Young Hur & Sang-Hyun Park

  2. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Min Cheol Park & Kahp-Yang Suh

  3. Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design (IAMD), Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Kahp-Yang Suh

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  1. Jae Young Hur
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  2. Min Cheol Park
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  3. Kahp-Yang Suh
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  4. Sang-Hyun Park
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Correspondence to Sang-Hyun Park.

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Hur, J.Y., Park, M.C., Suh, KY. et al. Synchronization of cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using a cell chip platform. Mol Cells 32, 483–488 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-011-0174-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-011-0174-8

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