Synchronizing Mammalian Cells? Anyone tried this?!

[R. John Lye]

Graham Dellaire <popa0206 at PO-Box.McGill.CA> wrote:
>Is it possible to synchronize mammalian cells efficiently..  
>say by serum starvation...
>Are there any protocols out there for this...
>
>I am looking to synchronize some murine fibroblasts.
>

Ummm,yes.  There are quite a few ways to synchronize cells.
Serum starvation will do for some, but will not work terribly 
well with most cell lines.  Nocodazole treatment is another, 
as is deoxythymnidine treatment followed by deoxycytidine 
rescue. You might combine both to get tight synchrony, which 
is what I did years ago.  There are other methods, which I
can't remember right now since I need some caffeine, but
I'd suggest a day spent in the library would be of value;
I'd offer to give you references, but mine are ten or more 
years old and completely out of date.

later,
John