Cell Cycle Flashcards
What is the central dogma?
DNA –> RNA –> Protein
What is the importance of gene expression?
Dictates cell identity and function.
What are genes made up of?
Coding (exon) and non coding (intron) regions.
In diploid organisms there are two copies of every gene.
Homozygous = same alleles
Heterozygous = different alleles
Process of DNA to RNA
- transcription
- cleavage at poly(A) site
- polyadenylation
- RNA splicing
Process mRNA to Protein
- mRNA enters ribosome
- tRNA brings in corresponding amino acid to codon.
- amino acids begin to form polypeptide chains.
What are proteins?
Made up of a combination of 20 amino acids.
They are the workhorse of the cell, they do everything: structural, sensors, transporters, enzymes, transcription factors, cellular communication, signal transduction etc.
Amino acid sequence determines structure and structure determines function.
What is an exception to the central dogma?
Prion - infections protein with normal DNA sequences (Mad cow disease).
Occurs due to conformation changes in structure. Goes from Alpha-helix to beta-sheet.
This is an exception because even though the DNA sequence remains the same the protein changes.
What are the types of controls in an experiment?
Positive control: effect already known but to an extreme extent (not always needed).
Negative control: variable testing is removed.
Sham control: go through the entire procedure except for what you are testing for (placebo).
What are the different approaches to studying cells?
- Cell biology: direct observation
- Biochemistry: isolating and describing proteins
- Genetics: mutant genes, their mutant proteins and the effect on the cell/animal
- Genomics and Proteonomics: looking at all genes or proteins at the same time
- Developmental Biology: diferential gene expression an the signs that lead to a mature organism.
What are the stages of the cell cycle:
- G1 Phase: recovery from mitosis, growth.
- S Phase: DNA is duplicated.
- G2 Phase: pre-mitosis checkpoints.
- M Phase: mitosis, chromosome segregation and cell division.
- G0: temporary or permenent exit from cell cycle.
Note: everything except for mitosis is collectively known as interphase.
Define chromosome
The structural unit of genetic material consisting of double stranded DNA and proteins.
Define chromatid
one copy of a duplicated chromosome
Define sister chomatid
Identical copies of a chromosome joined by a centromere.
Define: cohesins
Holds sister chromatids together after DNA replication and are removed for separation of chromatids
Define: Homologous chromosomes
Chromosome pair that includes one from each parent.
What is the goal of mitosis?
Make two genetically identical daughter cells.
Chromosome segregation in mitosis
Homologous chromosomes line up independently on one another.
Sister chromatids separate.
What are the stages of mitosis?
- Interphase
- Propase
- Prometaphase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
What is interphase?
All stages of the cell cycle excluding mitosis.
Includes chromosome duplication, cohesion and centrosome duplication.
What is prophase?
Breakdown of interphase. Chromosomes condense
What is prometaphase?
Nuclear envelope breaks down. Chromosomes get capture by microtubles and brought to the equator
What is metaphase?
Chromosomes aligned at the equator.
Process of chromosome condensation
chromatin pacing aided by histones. Wraps to condense.
Define: centromere
DNA sequence that serves as a target for mitotic spindle
Define: kinetechore
protein complex that links the centromere to microtubules
Define: centrioles
contained within the centrosome and are made up of bundles of microtubules
What do microtubules do?
They connect to the kinetechore of chromosomes and also to the cell membrane. Creates tension and tracks that allow chromsomes to be moved. Motor proteins move along microtubules to move chomosomes
What is anaphase?
Cohesions degraded so sister chomatids split. Chromatids begin to move towards poles then spindle poles seperate.
What is telophase?
Nuclear envelope begins to assemble. Contractile ring forms
What is cytokinesis?
reformation of interphase microtubules. Contractile ring forms cleavage furrow and separates two daughter cells.
Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis?
Mitosis wants two identical daughter cells whereas meiosis wants 4 daughter cells that only have half the required DNA.
Mitosis: 2n
Mieosis: 1n
Process of Meiosis
- Meiosis 1 occurs the same as mitosis however recombination occurs between homologous chromosomes.
- Meiosis 2 the duaghter cells from Meiosis 1 seperate again without duplicating chromosomes.
Why bother with sex?
Evolution depends on novel mutations.
Mutations cannot be passed on to children unless they occur in gametes.
new combinations of existing alleles create new phenotypes.
How is phosphorylation a mechanism of regulation?
Adding or removing a phosphate from a substrate is phosphorylation which causes the substrate to be activated/inactivated.
Kinase: adds phosphate
Phosphatase: removes phosphate
What are cyclin-dependent kinases?
CDK’s consist of a cyclin subunit and a cyclin dependent-kinase catalytic subunit.
Present throught the celly cycle but expressed at different stages.
CDK’s are inactive unless bound by a cyclin.
Cyclin determine CDK specificity.
There are different CDK’s which all regulate different things.