Mitogen Signals in Cell Division

Mitogens are signals that help cells move through the cell cycle. The cell cycle is the set of stages a cell follows to grow and divide. In many cells, mitogens are needed before the cell can enter division.

These signals work through pathways inside the cell. One important route is the MAP kinas...

Unicellular organisms, such as bacteria, divide when there are enough nutrients in the environment.

However, in multicellular organisms, most cells remain in G0, or the non-dividing phase, until cell division is triggered by extracellular signal molecules, called 'mitogens’.

Mitogens are usually small proteins or peptides secreted ...