Cell Cycle/Control of Cell Cycle Flashcards
what occurs during G1 phase
cells become committed to continue division OR exit from the cell cycle (G0 = quiescence)
what occurs if cells exit from the cell cycle?
G0, they can become non-cycling, terminally differentiated cell OR re-enter the cell cycle in response to external cues (GF, nutrients)
how is the cell transitioned from G1 to S
a mitogenic stimulus is bound to activated mitogen receptor, and a signal transduction cascade initiates to express genes that are needed to proceed to S phase
what is S phase, how long does it take
the cells duplicate its genenomic material, replicated semi-conservatively, takes 8 hours
what are sister chromatids joined by?
cohesin rings around the two molecules
what are cohesin rings made of?
2 core subunits SMC1 and SMC3
what structures are duplicated during S phase?
chromosomes (1 chromatid –> 2 chromatid) centrosome
what is the centrosome
microtubule organizing center of the cell that forms the poles of the bipolar mitotic spindle during mitosis
what is G2?
interval between S phase and mitosis period of rapid cell growth and protein synthesis AN IMPORTANT CHECKPOINT for entering M phase
5 phases of mitosis (M phase)
prophase prometaphase metaphase anaphase telophase
how long does mitosis last?
90 min
what occurs during prophase
- chromatin condenses (become visible) 2.centrosomes separate and move to opposite sides of the nucleus 3. centrosomes start the mitotic spindle
what protein complex condeses chromosomes during prophase?
condensins consist of two core proteins SMC2 and SMC4 ring like complexes
how are condensins activated?
mitotic cyclinB-cdk1 complexes phosphorylate condensin subunits early in mitosis, resulting in their assembly on chromosomes
what occurs during prometaphase
- nuclear envelope breaks down 2. chromosomes become more condensed 3. kinetochore formed at centromere and microtubules attach to it
what causes the nuclear envelope to break down?
phosphorylation of the nuclear pore proteins and lamins by mitotic cyclinB-Cdk1
what are kinetochores
proteins on chromatids where the microtubules of the mitotic spindle attach, that are at the centromere (center) of the chromatids (where the two sister chromatids are linked)
what occurs during metaphase
- chromosomes align on an axis called metaphase plate ANOTHER REGULATION POINT, called the mitotic spindle checkpoint
what is the mitotic spindle checkpoint?
a regulation checkpoint during metaphase where the cell makes sure that every kinetochore is attached by a spindle microtubule (this makes sure that each daughter cell will have one copy of each chromosome)
what makes up the mitotic spindle?
- aster microtubules 2. kinetochore microtubules 3. interpolar microtubules

what are aster microtubules
hold centrosomes in place at the poles of the mitotic spindle
what are kinetochore microtubules
attach to the kinetochores on each side of the sister chromatids and links the chromosomes to the spindle pole
what are interpolar microtubules
two microtubules from opposite poles interact with each other via various microtubule-associated proteins and motor proteins in the middle of the spindle pole THESE ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH KINETOCHORES
-formation of this is due to cyclinB-cdk1 phosphorylating microtubule associated proteins
when do the sister chromatids actually separate
in the transition from metaphase to anaphase