Synchronization of the cell cycle using lovastatin

Synchronization by Lovastatin arrests many cell types reversibly in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. Here we show that Lovastatin (10 μM) mediates cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, where 85% of cells accumulate in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. Addition of mevalonate (at 100X the Lovastatin concentration) releases the cells from the G₁ arrest and allows for synchronous entry into late G ₁, S and G₂/M phases of the cell cycle. The expressions of different cyclins as a marker for different phases of the cell cycle are detected by western blot analysis and indicative of synchronous transition into each of cell cycle phases following the initial G₁ arrest. Due to its level of synchrony and high yield of synchronous populations of cells, Lovastatin method of cell synchronization can be used for examining gene expression patterns in a variety of different cell lines.