Cell surface changes in HeLa cells as an indication of cell cycle events.

A HeLa cell line synchronized by double thymidine block and mitotic shake off was shown to have a characteristic surface morphology for each of the different cell cycle stages. Inhibitors of cell multiplication were used to arrest cells in specific cell cycle phases, and these cells had a surface morphology similar to that of synchronized cells in the same phase. The results indicated a close association between the cell surface topography and the cycles of DNA synthesis in the cell nucleus of this HeLa line.