Cell Cycle Flashcards
What are the two major consequences of cell cycle dysregulation?
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Genome instability (i.e. the complement of chromosomes becomes unstable)
- Chromosome loss, duplication and rearrangement (aneuploidy).
- Defective DNA repair: mutagenesis.
Activation of proto-oncogenes.
Inactivation of tumour suppressor genes.
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Too much cell proliferation –> tumour development
- Due to genome instability = inactivation of tumour suppressor genes)
What are the two major phases of the cell cycle?
(hint - don’f forget what happens between them!)
- M phase = mitosis and cytokinesis
- S phase = DNA synthesis
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G phase = Gap phases
- G1 (in between M and S)
- G2 (in between S and M)
What is interphase?
Interphase = everything apart from M phase (i.e.G1 + S + G2)
- Cells grow in interphase
- Organelles duplicate/multiply.
- Durations vary with species, cell type, conditions etc.
Define post-mitotic and G0
- Post-mitotic = cells that have come out of the cell cycle
- G0 = quiescent
*Neither of these states are permanent *
What are the 6 stages of mitosis?
interphase
Prophase
Pro-metaphase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Outline the first stage of mitosis
Phase 1 = interphase, G2
- Nucleus is full of DNA in its uncondensed form
Outline the second stage of mitosis
Phase 2 = prophase
- Sister chromatids form
Outline the third stage of mitosis
Phase 3 = pro-metaphase
- Nuclear envelope begins to breakdown
- Pro-metaphase chromosomes appear
- Two kinds of microtubules present kinetochore microtubules and non-kinetochore microtubules
Outline the fourth stage of mitosis
Phase 4 = metaphase
- Fully condensed chromosomes
- Nuclear envelope has completely degraded
Outline the fifth stage of mitosis
Phase 5 = anaphase
- Chromosomes are pulled apart to the spindle poles (by the kinetochores)
Outline the sixth stage of mitosis
Phase 6 = telophase
- Nuceloles begins to form
- Nuclear envelope re forms
- Cytokinesis begins
What are the two types of microtubules?
(hint - these appear at pro-metaphase)
- Kinetochore = handles of the chromosomes
- Non-kinetochore = attach to each other, not the chromosome
What is cytokinesis?
Cytokinesis – the process of creating two daughter cells from one cell
At what stage (of mitosis) do spindles form?
During metaphase (phase 4)
What does the primary spindle apparatus consist of?
Centrosomes and Microtubules
What is the purpose of the centrosome?
Organelle which serves as the primary microtubule organizing centre (MTOC)
Describe the structure of centrosomes
- Consists of two centrioles (barrels of nine triplet microtubules)
- Fibres are made of tubulin forming a barrel-like structure
What are the spindles made of?
tubulin + associated proteins
Tubulin spindles form ASTERS - what is this?
Radial microtubule array around the centrosome
(the spindles radiate out from the MTOC)
What two structures can form after the radial tubulin arrays meet?
Form either a kinetochore microtubules or non-kinetochore microtubules after the radial arrays meet
What must be degraded for metaphase –> anaphase?
Cohesin (molecular glue)
What is the result of anaphase?
Appearance of daughter chromosomes
During anaphase, how do the chromatids separate forming daughers?
Daughter chromosomes pulled toward opposite spindle poles - the shortening of the microtubules is what is pulling the sister chromatids (i.e. daughter chromosomes) from each other
What is the spindle assembly checkpoint?
Prevents anaphase from starting too early - ensures that anaphase does not begin until the sister chromatids are correctly attached to the spindles