Cell Biology Mid 1 prep Flashcards
What are the macromolecules?
Proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides
What is a cell?
It contains a plasma membrane that separates non-living worlds. Inside, the cell has order and structure while the outside is dynamic.
What’s the reaction that joins sugar together and, in the process, removes H2O?
Nucleoside Triphosphate Hydrolysis
Is nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis reaction energetically favourable?
No, it is energetically unfavourable because it requires energy.
What are polysaccharides?
They are energy storage, structural functions and involved in cell signalling
What interaction stabilizes DNA?
non-covalent interactions such as HYDROGEN BONDING, ionic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals interactions
Whats responsible for folding in a protein?
NON-COVALENT interactions within the polypeptide chain are responsible for folding.
-Electrostatic forces (ionic interactions) bond with charged amino acid groups
-Hydrogen bonds bond with polar amino acid residues
-Van Der Waals attractions bond with many amino acid residues
What is the primary structure for building amino acids
A linear order of amino acids in the polypeptide
What is the secondary structure?
FOLDING of alpha helices and beta sheets
What is the tertiary structure?
GLOBAL 3-dimensional FOLD of the entire polypeptide
What is the quaternary structure
Positions of all polypeptide chains needed to make a functional protein
What is the bond holding the Helix in place?
HYDROGEN BONDS between nearby peptide bonds
What is the bond holding the beta sheets?
HYDROGEN BONDS BETWEEN peptide bonds adjacent to each other.
What is a ligand?
Interacting molecules that bind to proteins via NON-COVALENT BONDS. A ligand binds to a specific proteins depending on the number of covalent bonds.
What happens if the proteins structure is altered?
It can lead to a disease or be non-functional. Example, a prion disease is caused by the change of conformation of a specific protein. The proteins were misfolded to a flat square (Prp). Its original conformation was circular. This altered protein can concert normal Prp into its abnormal conformation. This leads to an increase in abnormal Prp protein. This is called MAD COW disease.
What are the regulating proteins reactions?
Protein phosphorylation and binding to GTP or GDP
What happens to the protein when it is turned off or on?
Change of conformations, enzymatic activity, and protein-ligand interactions.
Describe the process of protein phosphorylation
The enzyme Kinase adds a covalent addition of a phosphate group to bind to a specific amino acid in a specific sequence. This addition of phosphate is called PHOSPHORYLATION.
The enzyme phosphatase removes the phosphate group. This process is called DE-PHOSPHORYLATION.
What amino acid sequences does the phosphate bind to during protein phosphorylation?
Serine, threonine or tyrosine amino aicds.(OH GROUPS)
What is GTPases?
It is a specialized molecular switch that binds and controls other proteins and its ability to hydrolyze GTP.
What is the process of GTPases.
The GEF (guanyl exchange factor) loads GTP onto GTPase. This turns it ON. This changes the shape and FUNCTION.
The GAP (GTPase activating protein) causes GTP hydrolysis to GDP. This turns it OFF.
How can a covalent attachment of a phosphate group change the function of a protein?
The attachment to a specific area of the protein adds NEGATIVE CHARGES to that area. These negative charges REPEL the other negative charges in the area and now attract positive ones. That is why the protein conformation changes and the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure changes.
What happens when the GTPase is ON?
It has a GTP binding pocket called the switch helix. This pocket allows GTPase to bind and control other proteins.
What happens when the GTPase is turned OFF?
The switch helix is blocked due to the hydrolysis of the GTP to GDP. Thus blocking interaction with other proteins.
What happens if a molecular switch such as Akt has a mutation?
If it is left on, the cell will undergo abnormal metabolism, cells divide uncontrollably, and cells survive when not supposed to. This can lead to cancer.
Name the non-membrane bound organelles. (4)
Ribosomes: are enzymes that are responsible for TRANSLATIONNN
Nucleolus: Inside the nucleus that is responsible for RNA SPLICING
Centrioles: forms MICROTUBLUS
Cytoskeleton: PROTEIN FILAMENTS that give shape, strength and movement to cells.
Name the membrane-bound organelles (9)
Plasma Membrane: Separates the outside world from the inside and is responsible for forming a SEMI-PERMEABLE MEMBRANE around the cell.
Nucleus: Has a double lipid bilayer that encloses and protects DNA.
EDR: BIOSYNTHESIS of proteins and lipids.
Golgi Apparatus: PROCESSING of proteins and lipids. SORTING to different parts of the cell.
Peroxisomes: REDOX REACTIONS. Synthesis or breakdown of some lipids.
Endosomes: They do endocytosis of material from the plasma membrane and sort material, and transport it to an organelle. AKA DELIVERY DRIVER
Lysosomes: DEGRADATION of membranes and proteins.
Mitochondria: Oxidation of ENERGY MOLECULES to make ATP
Chloroplasts: use sunlight to make ORGANIC MOLECULES from CO2 and water.