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ViaStain™ PI Cell Cycle Kit (for Cellometer K2, Vision CBA, and Spectrum)

CSK-0112

Cell Cycle
The process of DNA replication and cell division is known as the Cell Cycle. The cell cycle is typically divided into five phases: G0, the resting phase, G1, the normal growth phase, S, the DNA replication phase, G2, involving growth and preparation for mitosis, and M, mitosis.

There are at least two types of cell cycle control mechanisms. The first involves kinase activation to relay a cell from one stage to the next. The second is a type of checkpoint control by which flaws in critical events trigger a delay in cell cycle progression. Because cell cycle events regulate cell proliferation and
cancer involves inappropriate cell proliferation, cell cycle and alterations to the cell cycle control mechanisms are at the heart of oncology research.


Cell Cycle Analysis using PI
Cell cycle analysis is used to determine the proportion of cells in each stage of the cell cycle for a given cell population based on variations in DNA content. Each cell is stained with a fluorescent dye that intercalates with DNA. Propidium iodide (PI) is a nuclear staining dye that is frequently used to measure cell cycle. Because the dye cannot enter live cells, the cells are fixed with ethanol or methanol prior to staining. All of the cells are then stained. Cells preparing for division will contain increasing amounts of DNA and display proportionally increased fluorescence. Differences in fluorescence intensity are used to determine the percentage of cells in each phase of the cell cycle.

Learn more about Cell Cycle Reagents

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