Preferential Fas-mediated apoptotic execution at G(1) phase: the resistance of mitotic cells to the cell death

Apoptosis is induced by various stresses generated from the extracellular and intracellular environments. The fidelity of the cell cycle is monitored by surveillance mechanisms that arrest its further progression if any crucial process has not been completed or damages are sustained, and then the cells with problems undergo apoptosis. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and that of apoptosis have been elucidated, the links between them are not clear, especially that between cell cycle and death receptor-mediated apoptosis. By using the HeLa.S-Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) cells, we investigated the relationship between the cell cycle progression and apoptotic execution. To monitor apoptotic execution during cell cycle progression, we observed the cells after induction of apoptosis with time-lapse fluorescent microscopy. About 70% of Fas-mediated apoptotic cells were present at G(1) phase and about 20% of cells died immediately after cytokinesis, whereas more than 60% of etoposide-induced apoptotic cells were at S/G(2) phases in random culture of the cells. These results were confirmed by using synchronized culture of the cells. Furthermore, mitotic cells showed the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, these findings suggest that apoptotic execution is dependent on cell cycle phase and Fas-mediated apoptosis preferentially occurs at G(1) phase.