CELL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE Flashcards
What is a gene?
A length of DNA that encodes for a particular protein
What is meant by “locus”?
The precise position of a gene in the linear order of the chromosome
What is an allele?
An alternative form of a gene
What term means that 2 chromosomes carry the same alleles? And what is it’s anonym?
Homozygous
Heterozygous
Name 4 different forms of DNA mutation?
Promoter and splice site sequence change
Base change causing a single amino acid change
Insertion/deletion of bases (can be “in-frame” or “out of frame”)
Trinucleotide repeat expansions
What is the difference between mendelial and non-mendelian inheritance?
Mendelian: A change in a single gene, sufficient to cause clinical disease e.g. autosomal dominant/recessive and X linked
Non-mendelian: everything else including common “multifactorial” diseases
What does allelic heterogeneity mean?
Different mutations in the same gene can cause the same disease
(different locations in same gene = same disease)
What does locus heterogeneity mean?
The same disease might be caused by mutations in one of several genes.
(different genes = same disease)
What dos consanguineous mean?
Famillies where the parent’s are cousins hence they have 12.5% of shared genes
In the sex chromosomes, where do the mutations lie.. on the x or y chromosome?
X
What is nonpenetrance?
Failure of a genotype to manifest
What is variable expression?
Different family members may show different features of a disorder
Name two complications that occur in basic pedigree patterns and why they occur?
Non-penetrance and variable expression
Due to influence of other genes and environment
Where is your mitochondrial DNA inherited from? and what genes does it contain?
Mother
contains important genes for mitochondrial metabolic pathways and ribosomal RNAs
How does G1 differ from G2?
G1 involves checking that the cell is nutritionally sufficient to divide. G2 is checking that the DNA replication in S phase is sound
What is the structural difference between activated CDK- cyclin complex vs inactivated?
Inactivated: cdk, cyclin, 2 phosphate groups (activating and inhibitory) Phosphorylation via protein kinases
Activated: lacks the inhibitory phosphate
Name 2 protein kinases involved in the phosphorylation of cdk-cyclin complexes?
Wee1 and Cak (CDK-activating-kinase)
What is the R point?
The point at G1 at which the cell no longer requires growth factors to complete the cell.
This is the point when the cell decides if it’s going to divide or not.
What is the mechanism for ubiquitination?
- Ubiquitin has to be activated which requires an E1 enzyme
- Ubiquitin gets conjugated through an E2 enzyme
- Ubiquitin is transferred using an E3 enzyme (E3 ubiquitin ligase). It is the combination of the E2 and E3 that recognises the substrate, this allows the transfer of the ubiquitin onto the substrate
Function of a proteasome?
To recognise ubiquitinated cyclin
What is the function of cdk inhibitors? 1 example?
Function: controls of the checkpoints.
Transcription of inhibitors can be induced if conditions are not right for cell division (e.g. p21)
They sit on top of cyclin-cdk complex and prevent its activation
Describe how the activation of p16 prevents cell proliferation?
When p16 is active the cdk-complex of cdk 4 and cyclin D is inactive. These leads to activation of Rb protein which represses the expression of E2F transcription factor.
What is cdc6?
CDC6 (cell division cycle 6): Gene which encodes for a protein which initiates DNA replication. Once it has done its job (initiated DNA replication it is phosphorylated.
What is p53?
p53 (aka TP53 or tumor protein) is a gene that codes for a protein that regulates the cell cycle and hence functions as a tumor suppression. It is very important to suppress cancer.
What is Chk2?
Checkpoint kinase 2, a multifunctional enzyme whose functions are central to the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by DNA damage.
What are the structures that allow the dense condensation of DNA?
Condensins
What is the purpose of seperase?
In the transition from metaphase to anaphase once all the chromosomes are in the correct orientation, it destroys the cohesion rings
What is the inhibitor protein of seperase?
Securin
What is the APC?
Anaphase promoting complex
When activated degrades securin which activates seperase.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEIOSIS AND MITOSIS?
- Meiosis results in haploid cells (gametes) whereas mitosis results in diploid cells
- Meiosis consists of one round of DNA replication and two divisions
- At the metaphase plate the homologous chromosomes line up independently vs in their pairs as they do in mitosis.
What is a bivalent?
Structure formed when chromosomes replicate and align
What are the sources of genetic variability in haploid cells? And when do they occur?
Recombination via chiasma
independent assortment
IN PROPHASE 1
Non-disjunction errors in the Meiosis I result in…
Uniparental heterodisomy
Non-disjunction errors in the Meiosis II result in…
Uniparental isodisomy
What is one of the potential causes for the increased incidence of meiotic error as maternal age increases?
There is a long arrest in the prophase of female gametes. Hence the strength of cohesion complexes is vital, as age increases these begin to degrade hence there is an increased chance of non-disjunction occuring
Which chromosomes are acrocenteric?
13,14,15,21, 22
Why do chromosomes become acrocenteric?
There important genetic information is only contained on the long arm (i.e. the short arm is useless)
What syndrome is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21? How is it written?
Down syndrome
written as 47 XY/XX +21
What syndrome is caused by trisomy of chromosome 18? How is it written?
Edward syndrome
47 XY/XX +18
What syndrome is caused by trisomy of chromosome 13? How is it written?
Patau syndrome
47 XX/XY +13
Why are there no syndromes with just one chromosome (monosomic)
They are not compatible with life hence result in miscarriage
What is the karyotype of Turner syndrome?
Only 1 X chromosome
45 X
What are 2 chromosome mutations in structure?
Chromosomal insertion and translocation
When does robertsonian translocation occur?
When two acrocentric chromosomes stick end to end.
How to write out karyotype?
(total number of chromosomes), (sex chromosomes), “mutation abbreviation” (of which chromosomes ) (position of break points)
E.g. 46, XX, t(14;21) (p13,p14)
What do these abbreviations mean in karyotypes:
t?
der?
t= translocation der= derived from parent during pregnancy
In order for a reciprocal translocation to be stable there must be an exchange of…`
Two acentric fragments
When is a mutation balanced?
When there is an equal quantity of genetic information
Unbalanced products of mutations result in? (2 options)
Miscarriage is large segments are affected (either missing or added)
Dysmorphic delayed child (if small segments are effected)
What illness is caused by the presence of a phildelphia chromosome/
Common myeloid leukaemia
What are three types of single chromosome mutations?
Deletion, duplication and inversion
What disease is found in duplication of ch17 p11.2?
Charcot Marie Tooth disease
Describe the formation of mature t cell from bone marrow stem cells.
T cells derive from bone marrow stem cells. T cell precursor cells arrive in thymus (to undergo thymic education) and spend up to 7-21 days undergoing differentiation and proliferation into a mature, but antigen naïve, phenotype. After which they are released into your peripheral lymphoid tissue (i.e. lymph nodes, spleen)
Describe the process of educating T cells
- T cells start as double positive thymocytes (showing both CD4 and CD8)
- They have a TcR that on the most part won’t recognize your own MHC so these T cells die of “positive selection”
- The cells that do recognize your MHC go on to mature and express high levels of TcR. These then lose either their CD4 or CD8 to become single positive cells.
- Negative selection also occurs to eliminate T cells that see your MHC in high affinity. These would become autoreactive.
What is the aim of t cell education?
Results in the release of t cells into the periphery that are restricted to recognizing your own MHC
Name 3 similarities between TcR’s and antibodies
- Both have alpha and beta chain
- Both have an antigen binding site at the front and back end of the structure
- Extreme variability is generated by splicing of the DNA leads to chromosomal rearrangement
What is the main difference between an antigen binding onto a TcR vs an antibody?
Antibodies bind to antigens on it’s own (free in solution/in a membrane). The TcR can only recognize an antigen when it is bounded by an MHC molecule, it is “MHC restricted”
How are MHCs formed?
When proteins inside the cell die they breakdown and degrade. This is broken down to peptides by the immune system then presented on the cell surface as MHC molecules.
What are the difference between Class I and Class II MHC molecule structure?
Class I has a smaller “peptide binding groove”
What is the difference between cells that express the class I and II MHC molecules?
Class I is on almost every cell, Class II expression is limited to specialized antigen presenting cells and immune cells.
MHC Class I molecules are recognized by which t cell?
CD8 T cells
MHC Class II molecules are recognized by which t cell?
CD4 T cells
Where do MHC Class I pick up peptides?
Derived from the internal contents of the cell e.g. cytoplasm, nucleus
Then meets peptides in the ER
Where do MHC class II pick up peptides?
Picks up peptides derived from external sources i.e. outside your cells. These MHC molecules then meet peptides in endosomes.
What is HLA?
Human Leukocyte Antigen system:A gene complex encoding the MHC proteins in humans
What is the main cause for graft rejection?
MHC disparity. Different MHC presentation will induce an immune response.
MHC matching plus administrating immunosuppressants is key to avoid this
What type of cancer originates during B and T cells development?
Leukaeumia
What illnesses are caused when bacteria/viruses produce proteins that interfere with the interactions of TcR and MHC, stimulating large numbers of T cells?
Staphlococcal enterotoxin (SEB) Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Bare lymphocyte syndrome
What are the 3 mechanisms of communication between immune cells?
- Cell-cell contact
- Receptor-ligand interactions e.g. MHC and TcR
- Secretion of soluble factors that bind to receptors to initiate specific responses
What are cytokines?
large group of proteins, peptides or glycoproteins that are secreted by specific cells of immune system. Cytokines are a category of signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation and hematopoiesis.
What is an interleukin?
Cytokine secreted by leucocytes (WBCs)
What cell releases IL-2, IL-4, IF-gamma and TNF-alpha?
T cells
What is the function of IL-2?
Autocrine mechanism to enhance immune response
What is the function of IL-4?
Activates B cells to become antibody secreting cells. Can help alter which antibody they secrete e.g. release of IgE in an allergic reaction
What is the importance of IF-gamma?
Upregulation of gene that are involved in an immune response in immune cells (e.g. upregulating MHC genes)