Скачать или смотреть U2OS Cells: A Versatile Model for Cancer and Cell Biology Research

U2OS cells are a well-established and highly versatile human cell line that has become a staple in cancer research, cell biology, and beyond. Their unique characteristics make them particularly valuable for studying fundamental cellular processes.

What are U2OS Cells?
U2OS is a human osteosarcoma cell line, originally derived from a moderately differentiated sarcoma of the tibia of a 15-year-old female. They are adherent, epithelial-like cells that grow in a characteristic monolayer, often displaying a mix of spindle-shaped and more rounded morphologies.

Key Characteristics:

Origin: Human osteosarcoma (bone cancer)

Cell Type: Epithelial, adherent

Growth Pattern: Forms a monolayer

Special Feature: P53 proficient - They express the wild-type (normal) p53 tumor suppressor protein, unlike many other cancer cell lines. This makes them an excellent model for studying p53-related pathways.

Culturing U2OS Cells: Key Points for Success
U2OS cells are generally robust and easy to culture, but attention to detail ensures optimal growth and experimental reproducibility.

Growth Medium: The standard is McCoy's 5A Medium or DMEM, supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and 1% Penicillin-Streptomycin.

Culture Conditions: Maintain in a humidified incubator at 37°C with 5% CO₂.

Passaging: Passage cells when they reach 80-90% confluency.

Rinse the cell layer with DPBS (without calcium and magnesium).

Use 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA for detachment (typically 3-5 minutes at 37°C). Cells should detach relatively easily.

Neutralize the trypsin with complete medium containing serum.

Centrifuge, resuspend, and seed new flasks at a recommended split ratio of 1:5 to 1:10. U2OS cells proliferate quite rapidly.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

Over-confluency: While relatively hardy, allowing cells to become over-confluent can lead to increased stress and spontaneous detachment.

Mycoplasma Contamination: As with any cell line, regular testing (every 4-6 weeks) is essential to ensure data integrity.

Genetic Drift: Using cells at very high passage numbers can lead to changes in their characteristics. Regularly thaw new vials from a low-passage stock.

Why Are U2OS Cells So Widely Used? Key Applications
The utility of U2OS cells extends far beyond bone cancer research due to their unique genetic background and physical properties.

Cancer Research:

As an osteosarcoma model, they are used to study bone cancer biology, including proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.

Their wild-type p53 status is a major advantage for studying the DNA damage response, cell cycle control, and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Cell Biology and Signaling:

DNA Damage and Repair: U2OS are a preferred model for studying cellular responses to DNA-damaging agents and the complex signaling pathways involved (e.g., ATR/ATM kinases).

Cell Cycle Analysis: Their clear response to p53 activation makes them ideal for investigating cell cycle checkpoints and progression.

Fluorescence Microscopy and Protein Localization:

U2OS cells have a large, flat cytoplasmic area and well-defined nuclei. This makes them exceptionally suitable for high-resolution microscopy.

They are the cell line of choice for many studies involving:

Fluorescent protein tagging to track protein localization and dynamics in live cells.

Immunofluorescence to visualize cellular structures like the cytoskeleton, nucleoli, and DNA damage foci.

Virology and Host-Pathogen Interactions:

Their flat morphology also makes them excellent for studying the intracellular life cycle of various viruses and bacteria.

High-Content Screening (HCS):

Their suitability for imaging and well-characterized biology makes U2OS a common choice for high-content drug screening and functional genomics (e.g., siRNA screens) to discover new genes involved in cellular pathways.

In summary: U2OS cells are more than just a cancer model; they are a fundamental tool for cell biologists. Their p53 proficiency and ideal physical characteristics for imaging have cemented their role as a workhorse in uncovering the inner workings of human cells.
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