Figure 4

Cells arrested in G1 by cytokinesis failure enter p53- and p21-dependent premature senescence. (A) p53 pathway dependence of the G1 arrest following cytokinesis failure. Wt, p53-/- and p21-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts were synchronized and treated with blebbistatin and assayed as in Figure 1E. For each bar n ≥ 200 cells. (B) G1 arrested binucleate cells entered premature senescence as assayed by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity (SA-β-gal). The dark stain in the binucleate cell shown is the reaction product of Xgal cleavage. Scale bar represents 10 μm. (C) Time course of appearance of senescent cells. Mononucleate and binucleate cells were assayed for SA-β-gal at the indicated days after blebbistatin removal. For each point n = 60–100 cells.