Cell Cycle Flashcards
What are the phases of the cell cycle?
- Interphase
- Mitosis
- Cytokinesis
How can interphase be divided?
- Gap 1 phase (G1)
- Synthesis Phase (S)
- Gap 2 phase (G2)
What happens in the gap 1 phase of interphase?
All organelles in the cell are doubled, including cytosol components and centrioles
- Cell growth
What happens in the synthesis stage of interphase?
The DNA replicates
- Genome replication
What happens in the gap 2 phase of interphase?
All the enzymes needed for cell division are produced
- Synthesise the microtubules/spindle fibers for mitosis
- Preparation for division
Which phase of the cell cycle do most eukaryotic cells spend their time?
Interphase, the cells still carries out the regular functions, it just also prepares for mitosis
What are the stages of mitosis?
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
What happens during prophase?
- Chromosomes condense and become visible
- The cytoskeleton disassembles as the spindle apparatus forms
- The centrioles move to the polar ends of the cell and the nuclear envelope breaks down,
- The centrioles extend their microtubules to contact with the sister chromatids kenetochore
Where are the two sister chromatids held together?
The centromere, a sort of junction holding the two sister chromatids together
How does the spindle fiber connect to a chromosome?
Proteins in the centromeres of the chromosomes called kinetochores attach to the microtubules
What happens during metaphase?
- The chromosomes are pulled by the microtubules into the middle of the cell, called the metaphase plate
What happens during anaphase?
- Chromosomes are split by the microtubules
- The sister chromatids are pulled to opposite poles of the cell
What happens during telophase?
- The cell is constricted in the middle and creates a pinch in the cell
- Chromosomes cluster at both poles
- Chromosomes decondense at both poles of the cell as the nuclear envelopes begin to reform
- The spindle apparatus disassembles as the microtubules are broken down into tubulin monomers
How does the cell pinch during telophase?
A ring of constricting actin and myosin filaments surrounding the inside of the circumference of the cell
What are the tubulin monomers reused for after the spindle apparatus is broken down?
To reconstruct the cytoskeleton of the new daughter cells
What is cytokinesis and what happens during this phase?
- Cell division
- The completion of cell division as the cleavage furrow is extended and separates the cells
- Cell membrane and wall are formed where necessary
What is the name of the pinch before the two daughter cells split?
Cleavage furrow
Why can’t plants use an actin cleavage furrow to separate the daughter cells?
The actin filaments are not strong enough to penetrate the cell wall
What do plants use instead of actin filaments during telophase?
Vesicles from the Golgi apparatus form an expanding membrane partician, kind of like a wall of vesicles between the two daughter cells
- Cytokinesis then splits the two cells at this wall of vesicles AKA the cell plate
- Inside the vesicles is the material to create the new cell walls
What is the G1 checkpoint in the cell cycle?
- A principal checkpoint
- Makes the decision whether the cell should divide, delay divisions or enter a resting stage
What is the G2 checkpoint in the cell cycle
- A principal checkpoint
- Assess the success of DNA replication and triggers the start of mitosis, As long as the preparation for mitosis is acceptable
What is the M checkpoint in the cell cycle?
- A principal checkpoint
- Assess the accuracy of mitosis,
- Checks to see if the chromosomes attached to the spindles properly
- Occurs during metaphase
- Triggers the exit of mitosis and cytokinesis and the beginning of G1
How many principal checkpoints are there in the cell cycle?
3
What allows the principal checkpoints to move onto the next step in the cell cycle?
- Acceptable levels of MPF
What is MPF?
- Maturation/Mitotic Promoting factor
- A protein complex made from CDK binding with cyclin
What happens to the cyclin after the threshold of MPF has been met and the cell cycle moves on?
The cyclin is broken down by a cyclin degrading protein
What is the Gap 0/ G0 phase?
A resting phase outside of the cell cycle where the cell just carries out its required duties
What determines if a cell passes the checkpoints?
- Amount of MPK
- Intracellular and extracellular chemical signals
- e.g. growth factor
What tells a cell to stop dividing and why?
Surface proteins
- when the environment is too crowded and cells are touching with too much pressure
What are kinases and their function in the cell cycle?
An enzyme that provides energy for the reactions needed for successful mitosis to occur
What are the two types of reproduction?
- Sexual
- Asexual
What is asexual reproduction?
Reproduction involving only one parent
- Produces an identical clone
- Genetic variation only from mutation
What types of cells use Asexual reproduction?
- Single-celled Eukaryotes
- Single-celled Prokaryotes
- Multicellular Eukaryotes (starfish)
- Some plants
What are the characteristics of DNA found in a prokaryote?
- Double-stranded
- Circular
What is Sexual reproduction?
Reproduction involving the fusion of gametes
- Two parents
- Results in genetic variation
What process produces gametes?
Meiosis
What are gametes and how do they differ from every other cell in your body?
- Sex cells with only 23 chromosomes