Cell Cycle and Replication Flashcards
Cell Cycle
Mitosis: cell division (only one stage of a cell’s regular cycle)
Many cells constantly move through the stages of the cell cycle which concludes when one cell splits into two new daughter cells
Roughly, the cell cycle can be split into mitotic phase (M-phase) and interphase (everything in between the actual dividing of the cell)
Prokaryotes have an easier time, as they divide through binary fission
Binary Fission
Parent cell grows, replicates its chromosome, and then splits in two
Mitosis
Separation of the DNA copies to form 2 nuclei
5 steps where sister chromatids split up, with one going to each cell
46 chromatids go to each new cell (daughter cell)
Centrosome (consisting of two centrioles) forms poles at the two ends of the cell and microtubules (called mitotic spindle fibers) stretch the two cells apart
Cytokinesis
Splitting of one cell into two
Gap1 Phase (G1 Phase)
Is when cells grow after being newly formed, with an emphasis on obtaining energy and forming new proteins (meaning a lot of transcription and translation)
Synthetic Phase (S Phase)
Is when the full genome of the organism (all 46 chromosomes in humans) is copied (replication)
Gap2 Phase (G2 Phase)
Focuses on further growth and preparations for cell division, including the production of new organelles and proteins needed for mitosis
Mitosis and Cytokinesis Phase or Mitotic Phase (M Phase)
A cell splits its DNA copies between two cells, along with its cytosol
Gap0 Phase (G0 Phase)
Is when some cells stop growing instead of being in the G1 Phase (they are not working on dividing anymore)
Some cells stay in G0 once they enter it (like differentiated neurons), while others reactivate (like muscle cells when they need to grow further)
CDK
Verifies if specific cyclins have been produced to allow a cell to move to the next stage
Cyclins
Check points proteins to ensure that a cell is ready for the next stage (for example, cyclin E will bind CDK2 to initiate replication)
Their production is usually accelerated in cancer
Replication (in General)
Is like transcription, but on both strands
Permanent separation between the two strands of DNA, since DNA replication is semi-conservative (each new DNA molecule is half old and half new)
The separation stretches away from its initial point (replication bubble) creating a replication fork
DNA polymerase attaches to each strand and uses them to produce complementary strands (both DNA strands are templates)
One strand is copied faster than the other (one of them is leading, and the other one is lagging)
There are many proteins involved in this process
The two new double-stranded DNA molecules are daughter molecules
Occurs at many different spots at the same time
Replication in the Leading Strand
A short RNA fragment is produced by primase complementary to the parent DNA strand (template strand)
DNA Polymerase continues from this primer until the end, producing a daughter strand
The RNA fragment is later removed and replaced by by deoxyribonucleotides by RNA polymerase
Replication in Lagging Strand
A short RNA fragment is produced by primase complementary to the parent DNA strand (template strand)
DNA polymerase extends from this primer until it reaches a previous fragment
Segments get added backwards, called Okazaki fragments
The RNA fragment is removed and replaced by by deoxyribonucleotides by DNA polymerase
New portion is ligated (attached) to previous fragment
As the replication fork extends, more fragments bind
Replication Steps
Open dsDNA and avoid twisting
Prime (initiate) replication with RNA fragments
Produce complementary strands
Replace RNA primer with DNA
Ligate DNA segments (by DNA ligase, which joins the backbone molecules of the fragments)
Unwinding
DNA helicase separates the two DNA strands
Single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBP) molecules bind to the single strands of DNA to keep them from reannealing (reattach)
Topoisomerase removes DNA twisting tension by breaking phosphodiester bonds, swivels around, and rejoins DNA after relieving tension
DNA Primase
Protein that attaches to the ssDNA and synthesizes a short primer of RNA on each strand in a 5’ → 3’ direction
Homologous Chromosomes
The pair of chromosomes that are the same (copies)
They are not attached
Sex Chromosomes
X and X/Y
Sister Chromatides
Copies of each other attached at the centromere
Centromere
Region of a chromosome where it can attach to its sister chromatid (and is where they attach after replication)
Kinetochore
Hundred of different proteins that holds the centromere onto the cell’s microtubules
Stages of Mitosis
Prophase (early prophase) Prometaphase (late prophase) Metaphase Anaphase Telophase A cleavage furrow is created (while the cell stretches wider)
Prophase (Early Prophase)
DNA condenses to form chromosomes
Centrosomes move away from each other
Prometaphase (Late Prophase)
The nuclear membrane disappears
The kinetochores attach the chromosomes to the spindle fibres that are between the centrosomes
Anaphase
The kinetochores pull the sister chromatids apart, one toward each centrosome
Telophase
The chromosomes reach the centrosomes
Each set of 46 chromosomes starts to have a nucleus form around it
DNA starts to decondense
Cytokinesis
In animals, a cleavage furrow develops as the contractile ring closes
In plants, golgi-directed vesicles bring cell membrane and cell wall components to the centre of the newly divided plant cell
Gametes (Sex Cells)
Cell with half the normal chromosome number
Our only haploid cells