Cell Synchronization by Double Thymidine Block

Bio Protoc. 2018 Sep 5;8(17):e2994. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2994.

Abstract

Cell synchronization is widely used in studying mechanisms involves in regulation of cell cycle progression. Through synchronization, cells at distinct cell cycle stage could be obtained. Thymidine is a DNA synthesis inhibitor that can arrest cell at G1/S boundary, prior to DNA replication. Here, we present the protocol to synchronize cells at G1/S boundary by using double thymidine block. After release into normal medium, cell population at distinct cell cycle phase could be collected at different time points.

Keywords: Cell cycle; Cell synchronization; DNA replication; DNA synthesis; Thymidine.