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Biomedical Science Year 1 > Cell Biology > Flashcards

Cell Biology Flashcards

1
Q

What can all life forms on earth be traced back to?

A

A Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)

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2
Q

What is the most widely used phylogenetic marker?

A

Small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene (SSU rDNA)

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3
Q

Functions of the plasma membrane?

A
  1. Communication with the environment, other cells
  2. Barrier functions - passage of molecules in and out of the cell
  3. Cell growth, shape change, movement, division
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4
Q

Function of cytosol

A

Many metabolic pathways, protein synthesis

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5
Q

Function of nucleus

A

Contains main genome, DNA and RNA synthesis

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6
Q

Function of endoplasmic reticulum

A

Synthesis of most lipids; synthesis of proteins for distribution to many organelles and to the plasma membrane and secretions

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7
Q

Function of Golgi apparatus

A

Modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins and lipids for various organelles, PM or secretion

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8
Q

Function of lysosomes

A

Intracellular degradation

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9
Q

Function of endosomes

A

Sorting of internalised material

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10
Q

Function of peroxisomes

A

Oxidation of toxic molecules

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11
Q

Function of mitochondria

A

Oxidative phosphorylation, FeS cluster biosynthesis

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12
Q

Function of chloroplasts

A

Photosynthesis

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13
Q

Function of transporters

A

Move nutrients, metabolites or ions across membranes

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14
Q

Function of linkers

A

Join membranes to intra- or extracellular macromolecules, eg links to cytoskeleton

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15
Q

Function of receptors

A
  • Transduce signals from environment (eg hormone and growth factor receptors)
  • Transport of land - plgR, transferring receptor
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16
Q

What is the glycocalix?

A

The cell coat- protects cells against chemical, physical and biological damages

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17
Q

Which amino acid are N-glycans linked to?

A

Asparagine

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18
Q

Which amino acids are O-glycans linked to?

A

Serine/Threonine

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19
Q

Ways in which glycans affect health and disease

A

Modulate inflammatory responses, enable viral immune escape, can promote cancer cell metastasis

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20
Q

Functions of the glycocalyx

A

• Protection - can keep unwanted interactions at a distance
• Adhesion - carbohydrate binding proteins on other cell surfaces or in extracelular matrices
• Recognition - cell type specific glycosylation patterns
• Storage - bind and release growth factors

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21
Q

When is autophagy important?

A

During normal cell growth and differentiation

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22
Q

What is dysfunctional autophagy associated with?

A

Infectious disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer

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23
Q

Where are intermediate filaments found?

A

In the cytoplasm and nucleus

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24
Q

How large are intermediate filaments?

A

10nm in diameter

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25
Characteristics of intermediate filaments
- Strong but flexible - Comprised of polymers - Primary function is to prevent excessive stretching - Distribute tensile force across cells
26
What are intermediate filaments made up of?
- Core structure is an a-helical coil - 8 tetramers (16 dimers) associate to form the filament
27
How large are microtubules?
25nm in diameter
28
Function of microtubules
Move and locate cell components
29
Characteristics of microtubules
- Rigid, unstable, formation uses GTP - Interact with ATP-consuming kinesin and dynein motors
30
Which end do Kinesins go to?
Plus end
31
Which end do dyneins go to?
Minus and
32
Differences between cilia and flagella
- Cilia are numerous and short, flagella are few and long - Cilia are all locomotion, flagella are locomotion of entire cell
33
Differences between cilia and microvilli
- Cilia are motile, microvilli are non-motile - Cilia contain microtubules, microvilli contain actin filaments
34
How large are actin filaments?
6-8nm in diameter
35
Characteristics of actin filaments
- Flexible, dynamic, formation uses ATP - Interact with ATP-consuming myosin motors
36
What is spectrin?
Cytoskeletal protein that lines the inner plasma membrane
37
Myosin 1 characteristics
- All cells - One head/tail - Intracellular organisation - Moves cargo along actin filament
38
Myosin 2 characteristics
- Muscle cells (and others) - Dimer - Forms filaments - Contractile structures
39
What is p53?
Transcription factor / tumour suppressor Guardian of the genome
40
What is osmolarity?
The number of particles per unit volume
41
How much of the body is water?
60% (by weight)
42
What are the principle body cations?
Na+ and K+
43
What are the principle body anions?
Cl-, HCO3-, proteins, phosphates and amino acids
44
What is ionic composition like between body comportments?
Very different ie. Chemical disequilibrium
45
What is total ionic concentration like between body fluid compartments
Very similar
46
What is total osmotic concentration like between body fluid comportments?
Virtually identical ie. osmotic equilibrium
47
How do carrier proteins work?
Bind solute on one side of membrane and deliver it to other side by conformational change in protein
48
How do channel proteins work?
Form hydrophilic pores in membrane through which solutes (mainly ions) can diffuse
49
What is a uniporter?
A carrier that transports one substrate
50
Where does the energy come from in primary active transport?
Direct from ATP
51
Where does the energy come from in secondary active transport?
Potential energy stored in a concentration gradient
52
What is an action potential?
A rapid change in membrane potential
53
How is the resting membrane potential maintained?
- The high permeability of the membrane to K+ - The active transport of Na+ across the membrane
54
What is the name or the equation for equilibrium potential?
The Nernst equation
55
What is the name of the equation for resting membrane potential?
The Goldmann equation
56
What is the RMP?
-70mV, inside relative to outside
57
What is the absolute refractory period?
The period in which the membrane cannot generate another AP no matter how big the stimulus - The Na+ channels are inactivated
58
What is the relative refractory period?
The period in which the membrane can generate another AP, but only if the stimulus is bigger than normal - Some Na+ channels are recovered - Some K+ channels are still open
59
Where does the action potential start?
At the axon hillock
60
What is at the axon hillock?
Many voltage-gated Na+ channels
61
What are steroid hormones synthesised from?
Cholesterol
62
What are peptide hormones synthesised from?
Amino acids
63
What are amino acid hormones synthesised from?
Tyrosine
64
What is the hypothalamus?
Region of the brain which plays a key role in homeostasis
65
What are the two lobes of the pituitary gland/ hypophysis
Posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) and anterior pituitary (adrenohypophysis)
66
Hormones released by the posterior pituitary
Oxytocin and ADH
67
Function of oxytocin
Uterine smooth muscle contraction Breast myoepithelial contraction
68
Function of ADH
Water retention by kidney
69
What is TRH?
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
70
What is GnRH?
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
71
What is CRH?
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone
72
What is GHRH?
Growth hormone-releasing hormone
73
What is somatostatin
Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone
74
What are the 6 hypothalamic hormones?
TRH, GnRH, CRH, GHRH, somatostatin, dopamine
75
Target tissue of TRH
Thyrotrophs
76
Functions of TRH
Stimulates TSH and prolactin release
77
Target tissue of GnRH
Gonadotrophs
78
Functions of GnRH
Stimulates FSH and LH release
79
Target tissue of CRH
Corticotrophs
80
Functions of CRH
Stimulates ACTH and prolactin release
81
Target tissue of GHRH
Somatotrophs
82
Function of GHRH
Stimulates GH release
83
Target tissue of somatostatin
Somatotrophs
84
Functions of somatostatin
Inhibition of GH release, also of gastrin, VIP, glucagon and insulin
85
Target tissue of dopamine
Lactotrophs
86
Function of dopamine
Inhibits prolactin release
87
Anterior pituitary hormones
TSH, FSH, LH, ACTH, GH, prolactin
88
What is ACTH?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
89
Direct effects of GH?
Release fatty acids, reduce glucose metabolism, increase gluconeogenesis, increased production of IGF-1
90
Long term effects of GH
Growth promoting action on bone, promotes amino acid uptake
91
What is the major product of the thyroid?
Thyroxine or T4
92
What is the most active thyroid hormone?
Triiodothyronine / T3
93
What are 3 major thyroid transporting proteins?
Thyroxine-binding globulin, thyroxine-binding prealbumin, albumin
94
What does type 1 deiodinase do?
Results in active or inactive T3
95
What does type 2 deiodinase do?
Results in active T3
96
What does type 3 deiodinase do?
Results in inactive T3
97
3 zones of the cortex
Zona glomerulosa, zona fasiculata, zona reticularis
98
What does zona glomerulosa produce?
Aldosterone
99
What does zona fasiculata produce?
Cortisol and androgens
100
What does zona reticularis produce?
Cortisol and androgens
101
Major product of the medulla?
Epinephrine
102
Functions of aldosterone
Binds to mineralocorticoid receptors within principal cells, upregulates ENaC
103
Function of cortisol
Effects virtually all tissues mainly by binding to its receptor and controlling gene transcription
104
Effects of cortisol
Stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis, stimulates muscle catabolism, inhibits glucose uptake
105
Function of gonads
Secrete sex hormones
106
What is gametogenesis?
Production of gametes for sexual reproduction
107
What do testes do?
Secrete large amounts of androgens and small amounts of oestrogens
108
What do ovaries do?
Secrete large amounts of oestrogens and small amounts of androgens Secrete progesterone; prepares uterus for pregnancy
109
What is the main product of theca cells?
Androstenedione
110
Which enzyme is absent from the zona glomerulosa?
17a-hydroxylase

Biomedical Science Year 1 (8 decks)

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