Mitosis Protocols

Cytostatic factor extract (CSF) preparation for spindle assembly protocol. Protocol includes tips such as: The quality of the eggs is essential for good CSF extracts. Always sacrifice quantity for quality when trying to make functional extracts. - [Read Cytostatic Factor (CSF) Extract Preparation for Spindle Assembly Protocol]

A basic method to examine the basic stages of mitosis. - [Read Mitosis Protocol]

Protocol describes methods for maintaining healthy, dividing mammalian cells in culture and during imaging, when mitosis can be examined. Rose chambers are preferable for observation and microinjection of living mitotic cells, but slide/coverslip preparations are easy to make and do not require any special equipment. Another inexpensive and easy-to-use alternative is to grow cells in a culture dish with a glass bottom. Such dishes are suitable for microinjection experiments. - [Read Studying Mitosis in Cultured Mammalian Cells Prtocol]

Protocol describes a method for synchronizing monolayer cells in mitosis using selective detachment from their substrate. During mitosis, cells become spherical, causing them to become more loosely attached to their substrate. The "rounded up" cells are selectively detached by tapping the culture flask, resulting in a population in which as many as 90-98% of the cells are in mitosis. The drug nocodazole is used to increase the percentage of cells undergoing mitosis before detachment is performed - [Read Synchronization of Mammalian Cell Cultures in Mitosis Using Selective Detachment Protocol]