Abstract
We describe a protocol for the synchronisation of normal and tumour cells grown in suspension cultures using 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one iron chelators. These compounds inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, one of the rate limiting enzymes in DNA synthesis, and so block the cell cycle in late G1 phase. After removal of the chelator or repletion of cellular iron, cells progress through the cycle and remain synchronised for at least one full cell cycle. Cell viability is unaffected for at least 72 hours post-incubation and chelator treatment has no effect on RNA and protein synthesis. This method of synchronisation has been successful with all cell lines tested including normal and leukaemic human cell lines.
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Hoyes, K.P., Porter, J.B. Cell cycle synchronisation by 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one iron chelators. Methods Cell Sci 18, 127–133 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122163
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122163