Restriction point

The restriction point is a G₁ phase checkpoint in the cell cycle of animal cells. Cells that progress through this point are committed to enter S phase, where DNA synthesis and replication will occur. If a cell is not ready, or external conditions are not appropriate for the S phase, then the cell may enter G₀ phase, a quiescent stage. Lack of growth factors causes some cells to arrest at the restriction point. Mutations in factors contributing to cell cycle arrest at the restriction point are thought to be the main contributors of cancer^[1]

Yeast cells contain a similar checkpoint, the START point.

The Restriction Point was discovered in the 1970s by the American biochemist Arthur Pardee

See also

• Mitosis
• Cell cycle
• S-phase promoting factor

References

1. ^ Cancer Cell Cycles, Charles J. Sherr, Science, 6 December 1996

v • d • e Cell cycle Interphase G1 phase - S phase - G2 phase M phase Mitosis (Preprophase, Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase) - Cytokinesis Cell cycle checkpoints Restriction point - Spindle checkpoint - Postreplication checkpoint Other cellular phases G0 phase - Apoptosis

This cell biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e