Application
Note
Application
Note

Simplified Cell Cycle Phase Analysis withthe Cytek® Muse® Cell Cycle Assay
Cell Cycle Regulation:
Key to Cell Health and Proliferation

Principle of the Assay

The cell cycle represents one of the mostsignificant and fundamental processes ineukaryotic cells, resulting in cell growth anddivision into two daughter cells.
The regulation of cell cycle is critical to cell
survival, as it governs the repair of genetic damage
and the prevention of uncontrolled cell division.
Defects in cell cycle regulation are a characteristicfeature of tumor cells, and mutations in the genes
involved in controlling the cell cycle are extremelycommon in cancer. Cell cycle analysis has become
increasingly important in the understanding of theactions of anticancer compounds and studying
mechanisms of cell division.
The Cytek® Muse® Cell Cycle Assay allows for thefacile, rapid, and quantitative measurements of apercentage of the cells in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M
phases of cell cycle on the Cytek® Muse® cell
analyzer. The assay simplifies an analysis that has
traditionally required complicated instrumentationand training, and enables users to easily obtain
information on cell cycle distribution on theirbenchtops.

The Muse Cell Cycle Assay uses the nuclear
DNA stain propidium iodide (PI) to distinguishcells at different stages of the cell cycle, which
differ in DNA content. Resting cells (G0/G1)
contain two copies of each chromosome. Ascells begin cycling, they synthesize chromosomal
DNA (S phase). Fluorescence intensity fromthe DNA intercalating dye, PI, increases until all
chromosomal DNA has doubled (G2/M phase).
At this state, the G2/M cells fluoresce with twice
the intensity of the G0/G1 population. The G2/M
cells eventually divide into two cells. The assay,thus, utilizes the differential staining of cells
based on DNA content. Ethanol-fixed cells aretreated with a premixed Muse Cell Cycle Reagent
and acquired using the Muse Cell Cycle softwaremodule (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Muse® Cell Cycle Assay protocol steps.

PREPARE CELLS

1

Cytek Biosciences, Inc.

READ RESULTS

ADD REAGENT

47215 Lakeview Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538

1-877-922-9835

sales@cytekbio.com

Application
Note
Application
NoteMuse Cell Cycle Assay Features and Benefits• Simplified protocol allows for quick determinationof cells in all three phases of the cell cycle

Figure 2.

• Premixed single reagent means no reagent
preparation• User guided touchscreen highly simplifies
acquisition and analysis• Minimal number of cells required facilitatesrunning a larger number of samples or saving
precious sample for other experiments• Optimized reagent flexibility works with bothadherent and suspension cells• Flow cytometry principles enable accurate andprecise results

Touchscreen Interface Greatly Simplifies
Cell Cycle Data Acquisition and Analysis
The Muse Cell Cycle Software Module guides you
through setup, acquisition, and analysis in a few
simple steps.
• Intuitive touchscreen guides users to the answers• Results include percentage of populations
automatically displayed after acquisition, and ahistogram with three markers to demarcate theG0/G1, S, and G2/M cell cycle phases• Easy raw data and Excel® export features allow forarchiving of results and additional analysis

Results obtained for Jurkat cells stained with the Muse® CellCycle Kit, acquired on the Muse cell analyzer, and analyzed
with the Muse Cell Cycle Software Module.

Versatile and Accurate
The Muse Cell Cycle Assay can be used for studying
the impacts of cell cycle with a variety of treatment
conditions and compounds (Figure 3). The assay
works well with both suspension and adherent celltypes (Figures 3 and 4). Results obtained from thesimple, easy to use Muse cell analyzer are equivalent
to those from traditional analysis methods, such as
the Cytek® Guava® personal cell analyzer (PCA) flow
cytometry system, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1
G0/G1

SG2/M

Muse
Cell Analyzer

50.31
±1.54

30.3
±0.48

19.39±1.61

Guava® PCA

47.79
±1.00

33.79
±1.20

18.42
±0.25

®

Population percentages for the Muse cell analyzer
compared to the Guava® PCA flow cytometry system.
Percentages shown are averages of three individual
samplings and their standard deviations.

2

Cytek Biosciences, Inc.

47215 Lakeview Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538

1-877-922-9835

sales@cytekbio.com

Application
NoteApplication
NoteFigure 3.

Figure 4.

Impact of cell-cycle-disrupting compounds on Jurkatcells analyzed using the Muse Cell Cycle Assay.
Nocodazole, a microtubule disrupter, leads to cell cycle
arrest in G2/M phase; etoposide, a known anticancer
compound, also causes G2/M arrest.

Cell cycle profiles of MCF-7 (A) and PC-3 (B) cells
obtained with the Muse Cell Cycle Assay.
MCF-7 Applicable to Multiple Types
DNA Content Profile

Untreated Control
DNA Content Profile

PC3 Applicable to Multiple Types
DNA Content Profile

Nocodazole
DNA Content Profile

Etoposide
DNA Content Profile

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
©2023 Cytek Biosciences, Inc. All rights reserved. Cytek, Muse and Guava aretrademarks of Cytek Biosciences, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.

FL177538
July 2023
3Cytek Biosciences, Inc.

47215 Lakeview Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538

1-877-922-9835

sales@cytekbio.com