Abstract

The cell division cycle of mouse L cells in suspension culture was changed markedly by exposure of the cells to 0.10% β-phenethyl alcohol (PEA). The progress of cells from the G1 phase into the S phase, from the S phase into the G2 phase and from the G2 phase into mitosis was found to he almost completely stopped for at least 40 hr after the addition of PEA.

Cell populations exposed to PEA for 24 hr and then washed free of PEA showed a partial synchronization of cell proliferation. This partial synchronization appeared to be mainly due to a delay in the recovery of G1- and S-phase cells in PEA-treated populations, rather than to an accumulation of cells in any particular phase of the cell cycle.

The results obtained indicate that PEA has at least two separate effects on the cell division cycle of mammalian cells, an inhibition of the initiation of DNA synthesis, and an interference with the onset of cell division. They support the view that PEA is not simply a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells.