Cell cycle checkpoints control the fidelity and orderly progression of eukaryotic cell
division. By controlling the orderly progression of critical cell cycle events such as DNA
replication and chromosome segregation and ensuring proper repair of damaged DNA cell cycle
checkpoints function to ensure genome integrity. Mechanisms of checkpoint controls are not only
the research focus of investigators interested in mechanisms that regulate the cell cycle but
are also the interests of researchers studying cancer development as it is increasingly clear
that loss of cell cycle checkpoints which leads to genomic instability as a result is a
hallmark of tumorigenesis. Cell Cycle Checkpoints: Methods and Protocols provides detailed
descriptions of methodologies currently employed by researchers in the field including those
commonly used in the mammalian yeast C. elegans Drosophila and Xenopus model systems. Each
chapter describes a specific technique or protocol such as a method to induce cell cycle
checkpoints in a particular model system to synchronize a population of cells to allow
observations of cell cycle progression to identify genes involved in checkpoint regulation
and to study particular protein components of cell cycle checkpoint pathways. Written in the
highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format chapters contain
introductions to their respective topics lists of the necessary materials and reagents
step-by-step readily reproducible laboratory protocols and notes on troubleshooting and
avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and easily accessible Cell Cycle Checkpoints: Methods
and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies
in an effort to further our knowledge of this essential field.
