1.1 Cell Ultrastructure Flashcards
What is tissue?
consists of a combination of cells - often similar structure and origin - and an extracellular matrix (ECM) which work together to person a specialized function
how many tissue types are there in the human body?
4
what are the 4 tissue types in the human body?
muscle, nerve, epithelial, connective
put these in the correct order of size and place/order:
organ system, organ, differentiated cell types, organism, tissues
differentiated cell types, tissues, organ, organ system, organism
define limit of resolution.
the smallest distance at which 2 objects can be distinguished as 2 separate entities
what does multicellular state of a cell allow?
cells to differentiate and specialise so one cell may look very different from another
why can organelles be detected in an electron microscope and not light?
bcs electron has higher resolving power ∴ lower limit of resolution
state the relationship between limit of solution and wavelength
limit of resolution is proportional to the wavelength used by the microscope system
explain the reasoning behind why electron microscope has smaller limit of resolution compares to light microscopy
light microscope uses visible light (which has wavelength of 0.4-0.7 µm (micrometer)) and has theoretical limit of resolution of 0.2 µm, WHEREAS, em uses electrons (where at 100,000V, wavelength is 0.004nm aka 0.000004µm)
in electron microscopy, what does the wavelength depend on?
the accelerating voltage used
what is the limit of resolution of scanning electron microscopy (SEM)?
~10nm
what is the practical limit of resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM)?
~2nm for biological specimens
what is the difference between SEM and TEM?
SEM creates an image by detecting reflected or knocked-off electrons, while TEM uses transmitted electrons (electrons that are passing through the sample) to create an image. As a result,
compare SEM and TEM
TEM offers valuable information on the inner structure of the sample, while SEM provides information on the sample’s surface and its composition.
compare the complexity of eukaryotic cels and prokaryotic cells.
eukaryote are more complex than prokaryotes ∴ require segregation if their contents into different compartments to allow orderly completion of biochemical reactions that happen within them
how do eukaryotes compartmentalise?
numerous bilipid membranes that form an interconnecting network throughout the cell
what is the structure that all cell membranes have?
phospholipid molecules arranged as a bilayer
what is a property of phospholipids?
they are amphipathic
define amphipathic
a molecule which has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts
what happens to phospholipid in aqueous solution?
phospholipid molecules spontanouelsy form bilayers
what structure does phospholipid bilayer have under TEM?
trilaminate structure (2 hydrophilic, polar heads are a layer EACH and the inside hydrophobic tails are 1 layer)
what does the fluid mosaic model show?
many proteins float freely within the bilayer
2 examples of what the proteins do in the bilayer
some interact with the cytoskeleton, and many are conjugated with short polysaccharide chains and are said to be glycosylated
what is the outermost bounding membrane called and how big is it?
plasma membrane or plasmalemma and is ~9nm thick
what are the glycocalyx?
glycoproteins and glycoproteins projecting outwards from the plasma membrane
what are 7 functions of the plasma membrane?
- intercellular adhesion and recognition
- signal transduction
- compartmentalisation
- selective permeability
- transport of materials along cell surface
- endocytosis
- exocytosis
mnemonic to remember the 7 functions of plasma membrane?
sectise or silly Eleanor’s cat tore into sam’s ear
what does the nucleus contain?
DNA, nucleoproteins and RNA
what does the TEM show in the nucleus?
an electron-fence heterochromatin (where DNA and associated nucleoprotein is not active in RNA synthesis) and electron-lucent euchromatin (less condensed state so accessible for RNA synthesis)
what is the shape of the nucleus for both inactive and active cells?
inactive = small nuclei containing condensed heterochromatin
actively transcribing cells = relatively large nucleus containing more euchromatin
what cells are nucleus not present in?
erythrocytes (RBC), stratum corner cells (outermost layers of skin) and lens fibre cells
define nucleolus?
one or more electron-dense structures within nucleus
function of nucleoli (pl nucleolus)?
sites of ribosomal RNA synthesis for ribosome assembly, are prominent in actively biosynthetic cells (eg neurons)
what happens to ribosomal subunits for ribosome assembly?
exported from nucleus
when are nucleoli present?
during interphase ∴ disappear during cell division
define nuclear envelope
consisting of a double layer of membranes bounding the nucleus
what is on the outer layer of the nuclear envelope?
RER. the perinuclear cisterns between the inner and outer nuclear membrane is continuous with the RER
what does nuclear envelope contain?
nuclear pores
define endoplasmic reticulum
interconnecting membranes, vesicles and cistern (flattened sacs) that are continuous throughout the cytoplasm. literally “inside plasma network”
what is RER?
when ribosomes are attached to outer surface. it is extensive in cells actively synthesizing protein
what do the ribosomes on RER do?
generate proteins that associate w RER and are destined for export or for inclusion in lysosomes or cell membranes
what do free ribosomes in the cytoplasm do?
synthesized proteins destined for cytosol or mitochondria
what is SER?
when ER not associated with ribosomes. cistern not as flattened as RER, normally less extensive and distributed throughout the cytoplasm.
functions of SER?
primarily in lipid biosynthesis, steroid production, calcium storage (in muscle) and intercellular transport
what is Golgi apparatus?
saucer shaped stacks of cisternae
2 other names for Golgi apparatus?
Golgi complex, Golgi body
how is Golgi body formed?
vesicles bud off from RER and fuse with convex forming face of Golgi body
1 property of Golgi body?
have polarity ∴ proteins migrate from convex to concave part of stack
functions of Golgi?
sort, concentrate, package and modify proteins synthesized by RER
how are lysosomes made?
vesicles containing different proteins leave the maturing, concave face of Golgi
how do secretory vesicles work?
condense into secretory granules and release contains at the cell surface by exocytosis
define lysosome
membrane bound vesicle that contain powerful digestive/hydrolytic enzymes at pH 5
how many lysosome enzymes are known? name a few.
~40. nucleases, proteases, glycosideases, lipase, phosphatases, sulfates, phospholipases
property of lysosomal membrane proteins?
highly glycosylated for protection from these enzymes
where are primary lysosomes formed and what’s their shape?
generated by Golgi apparatus. highly diverse in shape, usually dense, spherical or oval
function of primary lysosomes?
fuse with endoxytosed, membrane-bound vesicles (eg: phagosomes, endoscopes) with autophagosomes or with excess secretory product to form secondary lysosomes in which contents are degraded
what are secondary lysosomes?
digestive vacuoles eg: phagolysosome
define autophagosomes.
defund organelles encircled by ER
what are residual bodies?
remnants of phagolysosomes that contain indigestible material (can form lipofuscin granules: imp. in aging, as age no. of granules ^)
what happens if residual bodies aren’t excreted by the cell?
remain as lipofuscin granules (which is a cellular characteristic of aging)
what are peroxisomes?
small (0.5-1um diameter) spherical, membrane bound organelles containing enzymes involved in oxidation of several substrates, particularly β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids (C18 and above). contain granular matrix and are bound by single membrane
how do peroxisomes replicate and what’s 1 feature of it?
self replicating but have no genome of their own ∴ all their proteins must be imported
where are peroxisomes present?
all cells, especially kidney tubules and liver parenchymal cells that detoxify toxic molecules that enter enter bloodstream
function of peroxisomes?
major sites of oxygen use and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) production
how do peroxisomes produce H2O2?
break down organic molecules by the process of oxidation to produce hydrogen peroxide -> which is quickly converted to oxygen and water.
what is the equation of peroxisomes?
RH2 + O2 -> R + H2O2
what is the clinical function of peroxisomes?
produce cholesterol and phospholipids found in brain and heart tissue. A peroxisome protein is involved in preventing one cause of kidney stones.
define catalase
common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms exposed to oxygen (eg: bacteria, plants, and animals) which catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
what does catalase do with H2O2?
uses H2O2 generated, to oxidise other substances including phenols, formic acid, formaldehyde and alcohol
catalase’s equation to oxidise alcohol?
CH3CH2OH + H2O2 -> CH3CHO + 2H2O
shape of mitochondria?
variable shape, from spherical to elongated oval shape
structure of mitochondria?
double membraned with inner membrane thrown into distinct folds (cristae) that are usually lamellar (although appear tubular in cells engaged in steroid synthesis)
function of mitochondria?
generation of energy-rich ATP molecules by oxidative phosphorylation
function of ATP?
store energy needed by cell
what are the substrates of ATP?
glucose and fatty acids
where is ATP found?
a lot found in liver and skeletal muscle cells ~2000 cells in liver
what does mitochondria matrix contain?
enzymes of Krebs and fatty acid cycles, DNA, RNA, ribosomes and calcium granules
state the replication of mitochondria
can divide autonomously bcs have their own genetic information
explain the relationship between mitochondria and bacteria
mitochondria DNA, ribosomes and division is similar to bacteria & endosymbiosis theory
explain the endosymbiosis theory
thought that mitochondria originate from bacteria that developed a symbiotic relationship with primordial eukaryotic cells in the distant past
what is the female lineage of mitochondria?
one inherits all their mitochondria from their mother
what is a cytoskeleton?
a complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments present in the cytoplasm of ALL cells (incl bacteria and archaea) It extends from the cell nucleus to the cell membrane
main 3 components of cytoskeleton?
microfilaments (actin-based fibres, 5nm diameter), intermediate filaments (composed of diff proteins, 10nm in diameter) and microtubules (tubulin-based tubules, 25nm diameter)