Cell and Molecular Biology Flashcards
How are lysosomes formed
From endocytic vesicles and vesicles from GA
What are lysosomes
organelles responsible for waste processing and recycling in animal cells
What are vacuoles
organelles responsible for waste processing and recycling in plant, fungi and algal cells
What receptor is involved in routing of lysosomal enzymes
mannose-6-phosphate (M6P)
Name a role of M6P Receptors
Synthesis and tagging
Recognition
Transport Vesicle Formation
Delivery to Lysosome
Catalyzation of macromolecule breakdown
Name a function of Lysosomes
Endocytosis
Phagocytosis
Autophagy
ER and Golgi transport
Breakdown of macromolecules
Recycling of cellular components
Defense against pathogens
What is Endocytosis
Materials from outside the cell being engulfed by the plasma membrane forming a vesicle that fuses with a lysosome for degradation
What is phagocytosis
When large particles or cells are ingested forming phagosomes which then fuse with lysosomes
What is Autophagy
When damaged organelles or cytoplasmic materials are encapsulated in autophagosomes which fuse with lysosomes for breakdown and recycling
What is the optimum pH of lysosomal enzymes
4-5 (acidic) This is due to environment of lysosome being acidic
How is acidity maintained in lysosomes
Proton pumps transporting hydrogen ions into lysosome
Membrane permeability - as membrane is impermeable to ions so cant diffuse out
What are some differences between lysosome and vacuole
Lysosomes are only found in animal cells
Vacuoles have wider roles including storage, maintaining of turgidity
Vacuoles are larger (only one in cell compared to many lysosomes)
Define In vitro
In vitro refers to studies conducted in a controlled environment outside of a living organism e.g. test tube
Define In Vivo
In vivo refers to studies or experiments conducted in living organisms
Define Ex Vivo
Ex Vivo refers to studies conducted on tissues or organs taken from a living organism but out with the organism itself
Describe a type of in vitro model
Cell culture - primary cell culture and immortalized cell line grown under controlled conditions
Organotypic - 3D cultures that maintain some characteristics of original tissue
How are cells cultured in vitro
Isolation - cells are isolated from tissues or obtained from cell banks
Culture medium - cells are grown in a nutrient rich medium that provides the necessary growth factors, hormone and gases
Substrate - cells are often cultured on a flat substrate to which they adhere
Environmental control
What are some limitations of in vitro models
Lack of complexity, an artificial environment genetic drift and limited longevity
What are some ethical considerations of using animals in experiments
The three Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) is a good guide. Animals need welfare and care. You need to be able to justify animal use
What are some ethical considerations of using humans in experiments
You must receive informed consent, must maintain their privacy, must insure a minimization of risk.
What are some ethical considerations of using in vitro cells in experiments
Source of cells
Consent for donated tissue
Use of embryonic stem cells
Replacement of animals /p
Name a function of membranes in eukaryotic cells
Compartmentalization
Selective permeability
Signal transduction
Energy transduction
Cell to cell communication
What is selective permeability in membranes
Membranes regulate the entry and exit of substances which maintains the internal balance of ions and molecules. Crucial in homeostasis
What is energy transduction
Membranes produce ATP in organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts
Describe the structure of the membrane and phospholipids
Made up of a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipids are made up of hydrophilic (polar) heads and hydrophobic (nonpolar) tails. Membranes are fluid and flexible due to unsaturated fatty acids. The arrangement of lipids forms a selective barrier
What are the polymer components of membranes
Integral and peripheral membranes
Carbohydrates (glycolipids + glycoproteins)
Lipids (other than phospholipids) such as cholesterol
How does sterols such as cholesterol affect membrane fluidity
At high temperatures they stabilize the membrane and at low temperatures make it more fluid
Name a function of proteins in membranes
Integral proteins function as channels and carriers for ions and molecules across the membrane.
Proteins act as receptors for signaling molecules
What are the functions of carbohydrates in the plasma membrane
Cell recognition - important in immune responses and tissue formation
Protect the cell surface from mechanical and chemical damage
What molecules require membrane transport proteins
Some ions due to their charge cannot diffuse through the lipid bilayer (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- etc.)
Large polar molecules due to size and polarity (e.g. glucose, amino acids)
Water can diffuse through to an extent aquaporins facilitate its transport to make it faster
Define Membrane potential
The voltage difference across a membrane resulting from the unequal distribution of ions across the cell membrane. This potential energy influences the movement of charged substance across the membrane.
Define electrochemical gradient
The combined effect of both the concentration gradient and the electric potential gradient on the movement of ions across membranes. It dictates the direction ions will move.
Define what a channel is
Channels allow molecules to pass through by diffusion acting as pores that can open or close
Define what a transporter is
They bind to specific molecules on one side of the membrane and change shape to release them on the other side
Define what passive transport is
Transport that does not require energy allowing substances to move according to concentration gradient
Define active transport
transport that requires energy to move substances against concentration gradients
Define coupled transport
Transport that involves the simultaneous transport of two different molecules where the movement of one is directly coupled with the movement of another.
Define uncoupled transport
transport of a single molecule without the direct coupling to the transport of another molecule
Define the cytoskeleton
A complex network of protein filaments that plays a vital role in both plant and animal cells. It is also integral to the structure and function of plant cell walls
What are the functions of the cytoskeleton in animal cells
Support/shape - Provides mechanical support and maintains cell integrity and shape
Intracellular transport - serves as tracks for the transport of neurotransmitters and other molecules between the cell body and synaptic terminals
Cell division - mitotic spindle ensures accurate chromosome segregation
Cell movement - actin filaments and myosin motor proteins facilitate muscle contraction
Signal transduction - cytoskeletal elements participate in signal transduction pathways that control cell growth differentiation and apoptosis
What are the functions of the cytoskeleton in plant cells
Support/shape - directs the desposition of cellulose fibres to cell wall synthesis
Cell Division - for the preprophase band and later phragmoplast
Signal transduction - plays a role in growth, development and stress response
The cytoskeleton is also vital in integration of cell wall components
Name the three principal components of the cytoskeleton
Actin filaments, Microtubules, intermediate filaments
Define Actin Filaments
Thinnest filament (7nm diameter), primarily involved in cell shape and movement. Found just beneath the cell membrane and in areas requiring strength or movement and composed of actin monomers.
Define Microtubules
Thickest filament (25nm in diameter), crucial for cell division, intracellular transport and cell structure. THey radiate from the cell centre. Composed of alpha and beta tubulin.
define Intermediate filaments
Intermediate thickness (10nm in diameter), providing mechanical support and resilience against stress. Found throughout the cell often surrounding the nucleus and made of various proteins
What circumstances require cell death
Damaged DNA
Infection
Developmental processes
Maintaining homeostasis
Disease prevention
Define Apoptosis
Programmed cell death, characterized by cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation
Define necrosis
Accidental cell death resulting from external factors like trauma or infection leading to swelling and rupture
Define Autophagy
A process where cells degrade their own components through lysosomal machinery often as a survival mechanism
Define Proptosis
A form of programmed cell death associated with inflammation, involving cell swelling and lysis to release pro-inflammatory mediators
Define Ferroptosis
AN iron dependent form of cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides
Name the 3 stages of apoptosis
Initiation phase, execution phase phagocytosis
Define Phagocytosis
The cell beaks apart into apoptotic bodies and then phagocytosed and digested by neighboring cells
Name the 4 stages of necrosis
Onset, Cell swelling, organelle swelling and dysfunction, rupture
What are the consequences of uncontrolled cell death
Tissue damage, autoimmune disease, cancer (insufficient cell death), degenerative disease
Define anoikis
a form of apoptosis that is induced when cells lose their attachment to the extracellular matrix
Define contact-depended signalling
Signalling that requires direct physical contact between cells through membrane bound receptors and ligands
Define paracrine signalling
Signalling molecules released by a cell that affect nearby cells
Define synaptic signalling
signalling where neurotransmitters released from neurons cross synaptic gaps to target cells
Define endocrine signalling
hormones released into the bloodstream affecting distant target cells
Define what a receptor is
A protein molecule on the cell surface or inside a cell that binds to a specific ligand to initiate a cellular response
What is a ligand
A molecule that binds specifically to a receptor to trigger a signal transduction pathway or cellular response
Define, intercellular, intracellular and extracellular
Intercellular - occurring between cells
Intracellular - occurring within a cell
Extracellular - occurring outside a cell(s)
What are the main cell surface receptors
Ion Channel-linked receptors
G-Protein-Linked Receptors
Enzyme Linked Receptors
How does an Ion Channel linked receptor work
Opens or closes in response to ligand binding allowing ions to pass through membrane
How does a G Protein linked receptor work
They activate G proteins which in turn activate other intracellular signalling pathways
How does an enzyme linked receptor work
They function as enzymes or re associated with enzymes that are activated upon ligand binding
What is autocrine signalling
Signalling molecules that interact with receptors on same cell