10 - Signaling Pathways Directing Cell-Polarization II Flashcards
How is cell polarization characterized?
By molecular segregation
How is a functional polarization achieved?
By having molecules that perform a specific function segregated in space
What is the purpose of model organisms?
Study broad biological principles (such as cell signaling)
What are some examples of model organisms?
Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), C. elegans (nematoad), zebrafish, and Mus musculus (mouse)
What model organism is the most critical for human?
Rodent models
Why are rodent models the most critical for humans?
There is a direct implication between rodent and human
What are the advantages of using model organisms?
Can be grown easily in the lab, relatively cheap, and easily manipulated
What does “in vitro” mean?
In the glass / test tube
What kind of study involves isolated cells in a test tube?
In vitro
What are the advantages of an in vitro study?
It is easily manipulated and cheaper
What are the disadvantages of an in vitro study?
It is a reduced system (does not reflect natural conditions fully)
What does “in vivo” mean?
In the living
What kind of study involves doing experiments in the model organism?
In vivo
What are the advantages of an in vivo study?
The conditions reflect the natural environment
What are the disadvantages of an in vivo study?
They are harder to manipulate (not easy or cheap)
What technique is a “combination” of in vivo and in vitro?
Ex vivo
What is an ex vivo study?
Experiments are done in isolated tissues
What is the advantages of an ex vivo study?
Can easily manipulate the system, but still has some local conditions based on the surrounding cells in the tissue (communication)
True or false: ex vivo studies perfectly mimic the natural environment
False: it only mimics it slightly (based on the tissue)
What cells serve as models for cell polarization?
Neurons and epithelial cells
What are epithelial cells?
Cells that form tight boundaries (connected sheets)
What do epithelial cells do?
Line surfaces and cavities of an organism
What does the function of epithelial cells depend on?
The ability to develop and maintain polarized structures
What are the distinct domains of an epithelial cell?
Apical and basolateral domains
What separates the apical and basolateral domains?
Tight junctions
True or false: the apical domain is morphologically different from the basolateral domain
True: the apical domain has microvillae structures, while the basolateral domain does not
What is the structure of the apical domain?
Microvillae structures
What are microvillae?
Actin protrusions on the apical domain of epithelial cells
What is the function of microvillae?
Increase surface area for digestion / absorption
What domain occupies the majority of the epithelial cell?
The basolateral domain
True or false: the apical domain is biochemically different from the basolateral domain
True: the apical domain and basolateral domain have different cell receptors
How are epithelial cell domains morphologically distinct?
The apical domain has microvillae, while the basolateral domain does not
How are epithelial cell domains biochemically distinct?
The apical and basolateral domains have different cell surface receptors
What do tight junctions do?
Act as a barrier for water and solutes, and restrict movement of cell surface proteins between apical and basolateral domains
What is the significance of tight junctions acting as a barrier for water and solutes?
Create distinct extracellular spaces between apical and basolateral domains
What is the significance of tight junctions restricting lateral movement of cell surface proteins?
Prevent lateral diffusion to keep the distinct compositions of the apical and basolateral domains
What is needed for proper epithelial cell polarization?
- Proper cell domains have to form (morphologically and biochemically)
- The junctional complexes have to form
- Proper cell-surface receptors need to be trafficked to the proper domain, and maintained there
What is the most basic building block of brain circuitry?
The polarized neuron
What is the name for a cell body for a neuron?
The soma
What does the soma contain?
Cytoplasm, nucleus, etc.
What are the different compartments of a neuron?
The somatodendritic component, and the axon component
What is the morphology of the dendrites?
Short, stubby, branched protrusions
What is the morphology of the axon?
One long process
What is the function of the axon?
To transmit electrical / biochemical neuronal signals
What is the function of the dendrite?
Receive and compute signaling information from different axons
How are dendrites and axons (generally) different?
In their morphology, molecular composition, and function
What happens in stage 1 of in vitro neuronal development?
Cytoskeletal protrusions
What are the characteristics of the cytoskeletal protrusions in stage 1 of in vitro neuronal development?
Random and unassigned
When does stage 1 of in vitro neuronal development start?
First 6h
What happens in stage 2 of in vitro neuronal development?
Neurites are formed
What is a neurite?
Small protrusions that are not distinguishable between each other in composition and morphology, and have no function
When does stage 2 of in vitro neuronal development start?
After 6h
What happens in stage 3 of in vitro neuronal development?
One neurite grows rapidly to form the axon and gain the molecular determinants of the axon
What step in in vitro neuronal development is “breaking of the symmetry”?
Stage 3 (axon initiation)