Cell Biology: Structure & Function Flashcards
What are the 3 parts of a cell?
Plasma Membrane
Cytoplasm - cytosol/organelles
Nucleus
What is the plasma membrane and what is its purpose?
It is the phospholipid bilayer
Regulates exchange with environment
○ Allows movements of ions and nutrients into the cell
○ Releases wastes and cellular products outside the cell
What is the cytoplasm and what is its role?
- Made of Cytosol (fluid component)
○ Contains ions, proteins, lipids
Chemical reactions occur- Organelles
○ “Little Organs”
○ Perform specific functions of normal cell homeostasis
- Organelles
What are cellular receptors?
Proteins inside a cell or on cells surface that receive a signal and cause a response. Interact with molecules (ligands) to cause a biological response within the cell. Often the target of drugs.
What are the 4 types of receptors?
Ion Channels
G - Protein couple receptors (GPCR)
Receptors with linked enzymatic domains
Intracellular Receptors
What do ion channels do and what is an example of one?
Regulate the movement of ions across the membrane (inside and outside the cell)
nicotinic receptor
What are GPCR’s and how do they work?
Receptors that cross the membrane
Activation of receptor causes activation of nearby G proteins - regulating further signalling events and changes in cell function
How do transmembrane receptors work?
○ Molecules bind to the receptor, activating the intracellular enzymatic domain
○ Signals for events to occur, which effects are slow (take several hours to occur)
What is a ligand?
a chemical messenger that acts as a signal to produce a change in the body
What is an enzyme?
a protein that increases the speed of chemical reactions in the body
What is an example of an RTK?
An insulin receptor
What are intracellular receptors?
Found within cells - cytoplasm or nucleus
Signalling molecule enters through the plasma membrane - binds to intracellular receptor - the receptor (with the signalling molecule) binds to DNA - altering the production of proteins
