AP BIO UNIT 2 Flashcards
Cells
The basic structural and functional units of every organism
All Cells…
- Are bound by a plasma membrane
- Contain cytosol
- Contain chromosomes
- Contain ribosomes
Prokaryotes
Domains bacteria & archaea. DNA is in the nucleoid region. Generally smaller in size than eukaryotes.
Eukaryotes
Protists, fungi, animals, & plants. DNA is in the nucleus. Contain membrane bound organelles.
Organelles
Membrane bound structures in eukaryotes. Two classifications: endomembrane & energy.
Endomembrane Organelles
Nuclear Envelope
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
Golgi Complex
Vesicles/Vacuoles
Lysosomes
Plasma Membrane
Energy Organelles
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts
Compartmentalization
Compartmentalization in organelles allows for different metabolic reactions to occur in different locations. It increases the surface area for reactions to occur on and prevents interfering reactions from occuring in the same location.
Unique Plant Cell Components
Chloroplasts, Central Vacuole, Cell Wall, and Plasmodesmata (holes in the cell wall)
Unique Animal Cell Components
Lysosomes, Centrosomes, Flagella
Nucleus
Contains chromosomes (genetic information). It is enclosed by the nuclear membrane which protects the nucleus. It has a double membrane and pores. The pores regulate the exit and entry of all materials from the cell. It contains a nucleolus.
Nucleolus
The dense region of the nucleus where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesized. rRNA is combined with proteins to form large & small subunits of ribosomes. Subunits exit via nuclear pores and assemble ribosomes. The ribosomes translate message found on mRNA into the primary structure of polypeptides.
Ribosomes
*Some texts do not classify ribosomes as organelles because they are not membrane bound. Ribosomes are comprised of ribosomal RNA and protein. Their function is to synthesize proteins. They can be found in cytosol or bound to the ER or nuclear envelope. Ribosomes found in the cytosol generally produce proteins that functions only within the cytosol (example: enzymes). They are known as “free ribosomes.” Ribosomes bound to the ER/nuclear envelope produce proteins that can be secreted from the cell and leave via transport vesicles.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Synthesize membranes and compartmentalize the cell to keep proteins formed in the ER separate from those of free ribosomes.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Contains ribosomes bound to the ER membrane.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Contains no ribosomes. Synthesizes lipids, metabolizes carbohydrates, and detoxifies the cell.
Golgi Complex
The “shipment center.” Contains flattened membranous sacs called cisternae. Separates the sacs from the cytosol and each cisternae is not connected. It has directionality with a “cis” and “trans” face. The “cis”face receives vesicles from the ER. The “trans” face sends vesicles back out into cytosol to other locations or to the plasma membrane for secretion. The golgi complex receives transport vesicles from the ER (vesicles with materials), modifies the materials, adds molecular tags, packages materials into new transport vesicles that exit the membrane via exocytosis.
Lysosomes
Membranous sac with hydrolytic enzymes. It hydrolyzes macromolecules within animal cells.
Autophagy
Lysosomes can recycle their own cell’s organic materials. This allows the cell to renew itself.
Peroxisomes
Similar to lysosomes. They are a membrane-bound metabolic compartment. They catalyze reactions that produce H2O2. Enzymes in peroxisomes then break down H2O2 into water.
Vacuoles
Large vesicles that stem from the ER and Golgi. They are selective in transport. There are several types including food, contractile, and central.
Food Vacuole
Form via phagocytosis (cell eating) and then are digested by lysosomes.
Contractile Vacuole
Maintain water levels in cells.
Central Vacuole
Found in plants. Contains inorganic ions and water. Important for turgor pressure.
Endosymbiont Theory
The theory that explains the similarities mitochondria and chloroplasts have to a prokaryote. The theory states that an early eukaryotic cell engulfed a prokaryotic cell. The prokaryotic cell became an endosymbiont (cell that lives in another cell). It then became one functional organism. Evidence for the theory includes double membrane, ribosomes, circular DNA, and being capable of functioning on their own.
Mitochondria
Site of cellular respiration. Structure of the double membrane: outer membrane is smooth while the inner membrane has folds called cristae. These membranes divide the mitochondria into two internal compartments and increase surface area. The number of mitochondria in a cell correlates with metabolic activity. Cells with high metabolic activity have more mitochondria.
Intermembrane of Mitochondria
The space between the inner and outer membrane.
Mitochondrial Matrix
The location for the Krebs cycle. It contains enzymes that catalyze cellular respiration and produce ATP, mitochondrial DNA, and ribosomes.
Chloroplast
Specialized organelles in photosynthetic organisms. It is the site of photosynthesis and contains the green pigment, chlorophyll. Inside of its double membrane are thylakoids (membranous sacs that can organize into stacks called grana) and stroma (fluid around the thylakoids). Light dependent reactions occur in grana. Stroma is the location for the Calvin Cycle. They contain chloroplast DNA, ribosomes, and enzymes.
Thylakoids
Membranous sacs that can organize into stacks called grana. Light dependent reactions occur in grana.
Stroma
Fluid around the thylakoids. The location for the Calvin Cycle. It contains chloroplast DNA, ribosomes, and enzymes.
Cytoskeleton
(NOT an organelle). A network of fibers throughout the cytoplasm. They give structural support (especially for animal cells) and mechanical support. They anchor organelles and allow for movement of vesicles and organelles and/or the whole cell. Movement occurs when the cytoskeleton interacts with motor proteins. The three types of fibers in the cytoskeleton include microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.
Microtubules
A fiber in the cytoskeleton. Hollow rod-like structures made form the protein tubulin. They grow from the centrosome and assist in microtubule assembly. They serve as structural support (kind of like tracks) for the movement of organelles that are interacting with motor proteins. They assist in the separation of chromosomes during cell division and assist in cell motility (example: cilia and flagella).
Microfilaments
Thin solid rods made of the protein actin. They maintain the cell shape and bear tension and assist in muscle contraction and cell motility. Actin works with another protein called myosin to cause a contraction. They also assist in the division of animal cells, causing the contractile ring of the cleavage furrow.
Intermediate Filament
Fibrous proteins made of varying subunits. Permanent structural elements of cells. They maintain cell shape, anchor the nucleus and organelles, and form the nuclear lamina which lines the nuclear envelope.
Cell Size
Cellular metabolism depends on cell size. Cellular waste must leave and thermal energy must dissipate. Nutrients and other resources/chemical materials must enter. At a certain size, it begins to be too difficult for a cell to regulate what comes in and what goes out of the plasma membrane.