Metabolic events in synchronised cell cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus L.

Abstract

Cell division was synchronised in 4-litre batch cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus L. by starvation and regrowth. Up to five consecutive cell cycles were observed in each culture. Mitosis and cytokinesis were synchronised within 0.2 cell cycles. Accumulation of extractable DNA was discontinuous and separate from cytokinesis. Correction for the degree of synchrony in the population gave: G1=13–37 h, S=15 h, G2=14–19 h and M=0.9–1.3 h. Thymidine kinase activity and [¹⁴C]thymidine incorporation were highest during S-phase. A peak of activity of aspartate transcarbamoylase occurred during G2. Peaks in succinate dehydrogenase activity and respiration rate were observed at the initiation of DNA synthesis and just prior to mitosis. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase doubled in one step during the cell cycle. Total RNA and protein accumulated continuously through the cell cycle; the final rate being twice that observed initially.