Cell Biology And Metabolism Flashcards
Can proteins and lipids move from one side of bilateral to the other?
No, proteins and the polar head groups of lipids do not pass readily through the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer
What does the fluid mosaic model describe/propose?
- Describes the behaviour of molecules in cell membranes
- Proposes that the lipid bilayer is a fluid structure that allows molecules to move laterally within membrane and is a mosaic of two types of molecules -> lipids and proteins
Who created fluid mosaic theory? When?
Biologists S. Jonathan Singer and Garth Nicolson in 1972
Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fatty Acids? Examples?
Saturated (no double bonds) - less mobile within membrane, tend to be solid at room temp (butter, animal fats)
Unsaturated (double bond present) - mobile, liquid at room temp (plant and fish oils)
2 ways proteins associate with membranes?
- Integral membrane proteins - permanently associated with membrane and cannot be removed w out destroying membrane itself -> span membrane, thus have both hydrophilic/phobic regions.
- Peripheral membrane proteins - temporarily associated w membrane and can easily be experimentally separated -> associated w either internal or external side of membrane
* mostly hydrophilic and interact w polar heads of lipid bilayer, or w hydrophilic regions of integral membrane proteins
What maintains homeostasis? Why?
Plasma membrane - is selectively permeable
Reasons why the plasma membrane selectively permeable? What can easily move across?
- The hydrophobic interior of lipid bilayer prevents ions and charged polar molecules from moving across it
- Many macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides are too large to cross plasma membrane on their own
- Gases like O2 and CO2, and non-polar molecules like lipids, can move across lipid bilayer
- Small, uncharged polar molecules like water, move can move through bilayer to a certain extent
What particle is insignificant to be moving across membrane?
- small, uncharged particles like H2O
What is used to facilitate movement of molecules?
Protein channels and transporters
Simple vs. Facilitated diffusion + examples
Simple -
Ex: - O2 and CO2 diffuse freely b/c there are different [ ] in and out of the cell
- hydrophobic molecules like triacylglycerols diffuse b/c lipid bilayer is also hydrophobic
Facilitated -
Ex: -
Define osmotic pressure
- Pressure/force needed to prevent H2O from moving from one sol’n into another by osmosis
- A way of describing tendency of a sol’n to “draw H2O in” by osmosis
When does osmosis end?/How can it be prevented?
When there is no more [ ] gradient, or movement is opposed by another force (pressure due to gravity or cell wall -> for plants, fungi, and bacteria)
Hypotonic sol’n animal cell vs. Hypotonic sol’n plant cell
Animal cell - H2O enters by osmosis and swells until it bursts
Plant cell - H2O enters by osmosis, increasing turgor pressure by cell wall to stop osmosis
What organelle is responsible for plants wilting, and why plant cells are larger than animal cells
Vacuole - loss of H2O from vacuole reduces turgor pressure, so cells cannot maintain shape within cell wall
Cell wall made of ______ in fungi
Chitin (polymer of sugar)
Cell wall made of ______ in bacteria
Peptidoglycan (polymer of amino acids and sugar)
Cell wall made of ______ in algae and plants
Cellulose (polymer of sugar)
What 2 other substances found in other cell walls?
Silicon or calcium carbonate
Do bacteria have internal membranes?
Not commonly, but photosynthetic bacteria have internal membranes that are specialized for harnessing light E
What is an example of a chemical modification occurring within the Golgi body? What is the importance of this process?
Glycosylation - sugars are covalently linked to lipids or specific amino acids of proteins, forming glycoproteins
- as they move through the Golgi apparatus, they encounter different enzymes in each region that add or trim sugars
- the sugars attached to the protein can protect the protein from enzyme digestion by blocking access to peptide chain (glycoproteins form a coating over plasma membrane)
- the shapes of sugars allow glycoproteins and glycolipids to be recognized by other cells and molecules in external environment (blood types A, B, AB, O)
Why do vesicles go in reverse, from Golgi body to ER in some cases?
To retrieve proteins in the ER or Golgi that were accidentally moved forward, and to recycle membrane components
What is the optimal pH for activity of enzymes? What organelle delivers the specialized proteins that regulate pH?
pH of 5. Golgi sorts + delivers proton pumps to lysosomal membranes
Where do breakdown products go after being degraded in the lysosome?
Proteins transport them across membrane to cytosol for use by cell (e.g. amino acids and sugars)
pH of normal cellular environment? What cannot function here?
pH ~7. Lysosomal enzymes. If at 5 like lysosomes, the other enzymes and proteins (would unfold and degrade)
Where do transmembrane proteins go after signal-anchor sequencing?
Can stay in membrane of ER, or end up in other internal membranes or plasma membrane, where they serve as transporters, pumps, receptors, or enzymes
How does a protein end up 1) free in the cytosol, 2) embedded in the plasma membrane, or 3) secreted from the cell?
1) directed to final destination through particular amino acid sequences (called signal sequences)
- these proteins are sorted after being translated
2) proteins destined for nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts have specific signal sequences (e.g. nuclear localization directs proteins to nucleus)
- proteins w no signal sequence remain in cytosol
- proteins produced by ribosomes on RER end up in lumen or embedded in membrane
3) sorted as they are translated by a ribosome in the cytosol, but a signal sequence in the growing protein directs ribosome to a channel on RER
- as the protein is translated, it is threaded through the channel
- thus, are destined for ER lumen, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, or secreted out of cell
3 similarities between mitochondria and chloroplasts?
- Involved in energy metabolism
- Descendants of free-living bacteria
- Surrounded by double membrane, and contain circular genomes
What is the result of phospholipids being composed of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions?
They spontaneously form structures such as micelles and bilayers when placed in aq environments
Membranes are ____. This means membrane components can move_____.
Fluid. Laterally in the plane of the membrane.
What is membrane fluidity influenced by?
Length of fatty acid chains, presence of C=C double bonds in fatty acid chains, and the amount of cholesterol
Transmembrane proteins
Span the membrane
Peripheral proteins
Temporarily associated with one or the other layer of lipid bilayer
Differences between Passive and Active transport?
Passive: movement of molecules by diffusion, random movement of molecules
- net movement of molecules from [high] -> [low]
- can occur by diffusion directly through plasma membrane (simple), or aided by protein transporters (facilitated)
Active: move molecules from regions of [low] -> [high], and requires E
- primary active uses E stored in ATP, secondary active uses E stored in an electrochemical gradient
Animals maintain (1)________ through the (2)_________. Plants, fungi, and bacteria use a (3)________, to maintain (4)___________?
(1) size and shape. (2) actions of protein pumps that actively move ions in and out of cell. (3) cell wall outside plasma membrane. (4) size and shape.
Eukaryotes include _______, _______, ______, and ______.
Plants, animals, fungi, and protists
Golgi apparatus communicates with ____ by _____. It receives proteins and lipids from the _____ and directs them to their ___________.
Endoplasmic Reticulum. Transport vesicles. ER. Final destinations.
Proteins made on free ribosomes vs. Proteins made on ribosomes on RER
Free: sorted after translation
- sorted by means of a signal sequence
- destined for cytosol, mitochondria, chloroplasts, or nucleus
RER: sorted during translation
- signal sequence recognized by a signal-recognition particle (SRP)
- these proteins end up as transmembrane proteins, reside in the interior of organelles, or are secreted
____ is the backbone of the ____ molecules that make up cells. These ___________ compounds are used as a stable form of E storage.
Carbon. Organic. Carbon-based.
What influences the direction of a rxn (fwd or reverse)?
The concentrations of reactants and products
- [high] reactant or [low] product favours fwd rxn, vice versa
What factors affect the free energy difference?
- [ ] of reactants + products
- pH of solution in which the rxn occurs
- Temperature
- Pressure
How does increasing temperature affect change in free energy (G) of a chemical reaction?
Increases value of TS, which decreases G, thus makes it more likely that a reaction will proceed without a net input of energy
How can glucose be readily broken down in cells?
Enzymes (chemical catalysts)
How do you reach the transition state in a reaction?
Reactant must absorb E from its surroundings (uphill portion of curve) ->
Activation energy (EA)
Energy input necessary to reach transition state
There is an ___ correlation between the ___ of a reaction and the ___ of the ___.
Inverse. Rate. Height. Energy barrier.
What is used to overcome the energy barrier of a reaction?
Heat (source of E)
How do enzymes accomplish their functions chemical reaction, unchanged?
By forming a complex with the reactants and products
2 types of inhibitors
- Irreversible - form covalent bonds with enzymes and irreversibly inactivate them
- Reversible - form weak bonds with enzymes and therefore easily dissociate from them
What is negative feedback? What is it used for?
- final product inhibits the first step
- stimulus acts on a sensor that communicates with an effector, producing a response that opposes initial stimulus
- used to maintain steady conditions (homeostasis)
Where are allosteric enzymes usually found?
- Near or at the start of a metabolic pathway
- Or at crossroads between two metabolic pathways
3 characteristics of enzymes, and how does each permit chemical reactions to occur in cells?
- Enzymes reduce activation E of a rxn / E input necessary to reach transition state
- by stabilizing transition state and decreasing G (free E) - Enzymes are catalysts that participate in a chemical rxn, forming complexes with products and reactants, but not consumed in the process
- highly specific, they usually catalyze only 1 rxn, recognizing a specific substrate - Inhibitors and activators can influence enzyme activity
Which of the following do enzymes change? G, rxn rate, types of products, activation E, the laws of thermodynamics
Only increase rxn rate and decrease activation E
How does protein folding allow for enzyme specificity?
- enzyme will only act on those substrates that bind to its active site (converts substrate -> product)
- enzyme has to fold into its correct shape for the active site to be the right shape to bind its substrate
Direction of a chemical rxn is influenced by the ____ of ____ and ____.
[ ]. Reactants. Products.
What are the 3 thermodynamic parameters defining a chemical reaction?
Gibbs free E, (G), Enthalpy (H), Entropy (S)
Exergonic vs. Endergonic rxns?
Exergonic - spontaneous (-change in G) and release E
Endergonic - non spontaneous (+change in G) and require E
Steps for oxidative phosphorylation?
Passing e- along ETC to final e- acceptor O2, pumping p+ across membrane, and using p+ electrochemical gradient to drive synthesis of ATP
After oxygen receives the electrons in the ETC, what is the result?
Formation of H2O
When is the change in free energy (G) the greatest in cellular respiration?
The steps that generate reduced e- carriers instead of producing ATP directly
Where do cellular respiration rxns occur in bacteria? Where is the ETC located?
Cytoplasm for rxns, plasma membrane for ETC
Briefly explain the four major stages of cellular respiration
- Glycolysis - glucose partially broken down and modest amt of E (in form of ATP and carriers) is released, producing pyruvate
- Pyruvate Oxidation - pyruvate is converted to acetyl-coenzyme A, and CO2 + carriers produced
- Citric Acid Cycle - acetyl-CoA broken down and CO2, ATP, and reduced e- carriers produced
- Oxidative Phosphorylation - carriers from steps 1-3 donate their e- to ETC
- transfers e- along membrane proteins to final e- acceptor (O2), to make ATP
- O2 is consumed and H2O is produced
2 ways that ATP is produced in cell respiration?
- Substrate-level phosphorylation - phosphorylated organic molecule directly transfers phosphate to ADP
- a little bit of ATP produced - Oxidative phosphorylation - ATP generated indirectly through reduction of carriers, transfer of e- from carriers to ETC, and synthesis of ATP from ADP + Pi
Which stage of cell respiration is anaerobic (does not use O2)
Glycolysis
Which molecules contain chemical E from the original glucose molecule, at the end of glycolysis?
Pyruvate, ATP, and NADH
What are the features of a cell?
- store and transmit info w DNA
- reproduce by copying DNA
- can exist as an independent life form
Steps of DNA -> Protein
DNA (transcription) -> RNA (translation) -> Protein
Proteins definition
- structural and functional molecules that do work of a cell, structure support, and catalyze chemical rxns
Central dogma
Idea that info flows from nucleic acids (RNA/DNA) to proteins
Gene
- unit of hereditary
- DNA sequence that affects 1 or more traits in an organism
- usually thru encoded protein or non coding RNA
What influences the ability of an organism’s DNA to be stably and reliably passed to offspring?
Double stranded helical structure
Risks of DNA replication?
Environment and mutations
Plasma membrane
- surrounds cytoplasm of cell, separating inside from out
- composed of lipids, proteins, and carbs
- fluid, not static
- carbs usually attached to glycolipids/glycoproteins
Nucleus
Stores DNA within chromosomes, enclosed by nuclear envelope
Nuclear envelope
Double layer that separates chromosomes from cytoplasm and other contents
Cytoplasm
Contents of cell other than nucleus
2 methods to gain E in organisms?
- Sun 2. Chemical compounds
Metabolism
Chemical rxns by which cells convert E from environment into another to build / break down molecules
- releases stored E to make ATP
Viruses
Agents that infects cells
Why aren’t viruses the smallest units of life?
- cannot harness E from environment, thus cannot read + use genetic info or regulate passage of substances
- they use cells to replicate
3 domains of life + briefly explain
- Bacteria - mostly single celled with circular chromosome but no nucleus
- divide by binary fission
- contain plasmids (small circular molecules or DNA that contain a few genes)
- commonly transferred between bacteria through pili -> a hollow, thread-like structure that connects bacteria to transfer plasmids by conjugation (genes for antibiotic resistance do this) - Archaea - flourish under extreme environments
- Eukarya - cells have true nucleus + divide by mitosis
1) Prokaryotes vs. 2) Eukaryotes
Nucleus: 1) no, nucleoid instead. 2) Yes
Transcription location: 1) cytoplasm 2) nucleus
Translation location: 1) cytoplasm 2) cytoplasm
Cell membrane addition: 1) hopanoids 2) sterols (cholesterol)
Size: 1) small (1-2mm) 2) larger (10-20mm)
Ratio of surface area to volume: 1) high 2) low
Internal organization: 1) no organelles 2) contains organelles
What are prokaryotes composed of?
Ribosomes, nucleoid, capsule, flagellum, cell wall, cell membrane
Plasmodesmata
Channels that allow passage of large molecules like mRNA and proteins between neighbouring molecules
What are the mono and disaccharides?
Monosaccharides - galactose, fructose, mannose
Disaccharides - maltose, lactose, sucrose
Horizontal gene transfer
How cells interact w each other
Endomembrane system
- contains nuclear envelope, ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vesicles, and plasma membrane
Cell theory
- all organisms are made up of cells
- the cell is the fundamental unit of life
- cells come from pre-existing cells
Cytosol
- in plasma, membrane, but outside organelles
- jelly like envelope that surrounds organelles