The S phase: beginning, middle, and end: a perspective.

Events in the S phase of the cell cycle have been investigated to a relatively limited extent in comparison with those in G1 and M phases. Four aspects of S are briefly discussed in this report: (1) the final biochemical step permitting initiation of DNA synthesis, (2) determination of replication timing of individual genes and its mechanism, (3) S phase processes that lead to the onset of M phase, and (4) resetting the S-phase machinery.