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BME205 > 7 Interactions Between Cells and Their Environment > Flashcards

7 Interactions Between Cells and Their Environment Flashcards

1
Q

Glycocalyx

  • Structure
  • 4 Functions
A
  • Formed from carb projection from MB
    1. Mediates cell-cell and cell-substratum interxns
    2. Mechanical protection
    3. Barrier against some MLCs
    4. Binds regulatory MLCs
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2
Q

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • An organized network beyond the MB

- regulatory role: determines cell shape and activities through physical and biochemical signalling

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3
Q

Basement Membrane (Animal)

  • Structure
  • 5 Functions
A
  • A specialized ECM - a continuous sheet that underlies epithelial tissue and surrounds blood vessels
    1. Maintain cell attachment
    2. Serves as substratum for cell migration
    3. Barrier to macroMLCs
    4. Establish epithelial cell polarity
    5. Prevents cell death
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4
Q

3 Features of ECM Proteins

A
  1. Typically long, fribrous
  2. Secreted by cells into ECM
  3. Capable of self-assembling into 3D network
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5
Q

Collagen I

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • 3 alpha helices wound around each other

- Provide high tensile strength (determines the mechanical property of ECM)

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6
Q

Proteoglycan Complex

  • Structure
  • 3 Functions
A
  • a core protein with GAGs (repeating dissacharide) which are negatively charged, allowing it to form a porous, hydrated gel
    1. Resist compression/cushion cells
    2. Provide binding sites for growth hormones to protect from proteases
    3. Regulate diffusion of small signalling MLCs in embryo
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7
Q

Firbonectin (Fn)

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • a linear array of distinct polypeptides (Fn modules) containing binding sites that are revealed under pulling
  • Guides migrating cells during embryo development
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8
Q

Laminins

  • Structure
  • 3 Functions
A
  • 3 polypeptide chains linked by disulfide bonds
    1. Help cell migration during development
    2. Lines the basement membrane in a network
    3. Contains domains for interaction
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9
Q

How is the ECM dynamic?

A
  • can be stretched

- constantly remodeling by degradation (by MMPs), cross linking, and reconstruction

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10
Q

Cellular Mechanotransduction

-Definition

A

-Process by which mechanical forces on the surface is converted by focal adhesions into biochemical signals in the cytoplasm

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11
Q

Focal Adhesion

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • sites for cells to adhere to their substratum

- send signals to the cell interior

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12
Q

Integrins

  • Structure
  • 2 Functions
A
  • membrane protein composed of heterodimers with alpha and beta subunits
    1. Integrate extra and intra cellular environments
    2. Linkage between integrins and their ligands mediates adhesion of cells to substratum or other cells
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13
Q

Binding of proteins to integrins is facilitated by ___

A

RGD (a tripeptide)

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14
Q

Describe the process of Inside-out Signalling

A
  1. Talin binds to the tails of integrin on cytoplasmic side

2. This induces conformational change in integrin, allowing to bind to ligands in the ECM

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15
Q

Describe the process of Outside-in Signalling

A
  1. A ligand binds to the extracellular domain of an integrin
  2. This induces conformational change at the cytoplasmic end
  3. The shape change can:
    a) Allow talin to bind thereby engaging the actin cytoskeleton
    OR
    b) Initiate a cascade of signals by inducing protein phosphorylation that ultimately changes gene expression thereby changing the cell behaviour
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16
Q

Hemidesmosomes

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • an attachment of epithelial cells to the basement membrane

- involved in adhesion to substratum

17
Q

Cell-cell recognition is essential to establishing and maintaining ___ as proved by ____ (experiment)

A

Tissue organization, Cell mixing studies in embryos

18
Q

Which four families of integral membrane proteins play a major role in mediating cell-cell adhesion?

A
  1. Selectins
  2. Some members of Immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF)
  3. Some members of the Integrin family
  4. Cadherins
19
Q

Selectins

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • integral membrane glycoprotein with a small, cytoplasmic domain, a single membrane-spanning domain, and a large extracellular domain
  • binds to sugars on the surface of cells mediating cell-cell adhesion
20
Q 
Immunoglobulin Superfamily (IgSF)
-1 Function
A

-mediates cell-cell adhesion in immune functions

21
Q

Describe inflammatory response from the perspective of an immune cell (probably don’t need to know)
-5 steps

A
  1. Leukocytes move to site of injury
  2. Neutrophoils attach to selectins
  3. Neutrophils roll along wall of vessel. As neutrophils interact with inflamed venule endothelium, platelet activating factor (PAF) is displayed
  4. PAF sends a signal to increase binding activity of some integrins via inside-out signalling
  5. Activated integrins cause neutrophils to stop rolling and adhere to wall of vessel via IgSF receptors
22
Q

Cadherins

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • glycroprotein
  • mediate Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion; cadherins join cells of similar types by preferentially binding to the same cadherin at the surface of the neighbouring cell
23
Q

Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

  • Structure
  • 1 Function
A
  • formed by cadherins

- involved in mediating adhesive contact during embryo development, tissue regeneration, and metastasis of cancer

24
Q

What are 3 special properties of metastatic cells in terms of cell adhesion?

A
  1. Less adhesive
  2. Able to penetrate several barriers
  3. Able to invade normal tissues
25
Q

What contributes to metastasis of tumor cells?

A

The loss of cadherin and other types of cell-adhesion molecules during tumor growth.

26
Q

Integrins and cadherins can both transmit signals from ___ to ___

A

extracellular environment, cytoplasm

27
Q

What are the 4 types of intercellular junction complexes?

A
  1. Adherens junction
  2. Tight junction
  3. Desmosome
  4. Gap junction
28
Q

Adherens junctions and desmosomes ___ (function)

A

anchor cells to other cells using adherins

29
Q

Tight junction

  • what it is
  • 3 Functions
A
  • specialized contact between epithelial cells
    1. Barrier to free diffusion of water and solutes from extracellular compartment
    2. Block membrane protein diffusion
    3. Permeable to specific ions and solutes
30
Q

Gap junction

  • Structure
  • 5 Features
A
  • sites between animal cells, composed of membrane protein connexins which organize into connexons
    1. Mediates intercellular communication
    2. Allows diffusion of low weight molecules
    3. Can be open or close in response to Ca2+ concentration
    4. Allows integration of activities of individual cells into a functional unit
    5. Communication between different cells determined by compatibility between connexins
31
Q

Tunneling Nanotubes

-what is it

A

A type of cell-cell communication involving a thin tube capable of carrying tiny particles between the cytoplasm of neighboring cells

BME205 (4 decks)

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