Cell Cycle Flashcards
1
Q
Cell Cycle Stages
A
G1, S, G2, M
2
Q
G-phase
A
- ‘gap’ or ‘growth’ phases
- cell regulates conditions to decide whether or not to divide
3
Q
S phase
A
- DNA replication
- many origins of replication
- sister chromatids are held together by cohesion complexes
- requires replication of both DNA and chromatin proteins associated with it
- S CDK activation leads to DNA unwinding protein activation
- this initiates replication at replication origins and inhibits proteins needed to allow that origin to initiate DNA replication again
4
Q
Prophase
A
- chromosome condensation
- spindle forms, coordinated by centrosomes
- DNA wound around histones in a bead on a string formation
- histones wrap around each other and attach to a scaffold protein
- these loops associate with each other
- centrosomes are made of 2 centrioles (9x microtubule triplets)
- microtubules nucleate from centrosomes
5
Q
Spindle Formation/Structure
A
- bipolar microtubule array with minus ends of the poles and plus ends radiating out
- microtubule motor proteins help the spindle function
- in animal cells, centrosomes provide prefabricated spindle poles to facilitate spindle assembly
6
Q
Prometaphase
A
- nuclear envelope breakdown
- gives more space in cell with which to divide
- M CDK phosphorylation of nuclear pore complexes in nuclear envelope initiates disassembly of npc / dissociation from envelope
- this phosphorylation of nuclear lamina = vesicular disassembly of nuclear membranes
7
Q
Kinetochores
A
- protein complex bridging between the nucleic acid and microtubules
- also associate with motor proteins that use ATP to move chromosomes
8
Q
Chromosome Separation
A
- chromatids are held together by a cohesin complex
- APC (anaphase promoting complex) activates separase (protease cleaving cohesins)
- APC destroys securin (separase inhibitor)
9
Q
Chromosome Migration
A
- uses the dynamic instability of microtubules (grow with GTPase and shrink when it is removed)
- kinetochore microtubules shorten so chromosomes move to poles (ie. force is generated at the kinetochores)
- overlapping microtubules generate the sliding force from opposite poles to push poles apart
- astral microtubules pull centrosomes on poles to move them apart
10
Q
Telophase
A
- daughter chromosomes arrive at poles/decondense
- reformation of the nuclear envelope
11
Q
Cytokinesis
A
- uses myosin and actin to form a contractile ring at equator
- actin ring contracts to separate two cells
12
Q
Cytokinesis
A
- uses myosin and actin to form a contractile ring at equator
- actin ring contracts to separate two cells
- cleavage furrow narrows to form the midbody, which persists as a tether between the cells before complete separation
- mitotic spindle ensures the correct timing and place for cytokinesis & releases signals initiating furrow midbody
- after cytokinesis the cells enter stable G1 state of low CDK activity (regulatory mechanisms prevent CDK activity)
13
Q
Hartwell & Nurse
A
- worked with budding yeast cells and fission yeast and mutated genes important in cell cycle regulation
- used complementation = method to identify a mutation in the genome / where it is located
- ## found that CDC2 was a key gene regulator and that it makes protein kinases
14
Q
Hartwell & Nurse
A
- worked with budding yeast cells and fission yeast and mutated genes important in cell cycle regulation
- used complementation = method to identify a mutation in the genome / where it is located
- found that CDC2 was a key gene regulator and that it makes protein kinases
- CDC2 activity also correlated with cell cycle stages (cyclic and periodical function)
15
Q
Tim Hunt
A
- examined sea urchin oocytes that are all stuck at the same cell phase + are large enough to visualise
- injected them with radioactive methionine and saw how it was incorporated into the cell cycle activity
- cyclin proteins appear just before mitosis
- cyclin is the activating partner of CDC2 - ie. is the on switch for protein kinase activity