Cell polarity Flashcards
Why is cell polarity necessary?
For cells to generate forms with a diverse array of functions
Create distinct protein compositions. giving different cell capabilities and functions
What are cell surface landmarks important for?
Adapting common pathways for cytoskeleton assembly, protein transport and membrane trafficking.
This creates cell polarity
Outline a general pathway to form a polarity axis
- Marking the site (usually binding to something)
- Decoding the site (signalling)
- Establishing the site (recruiting machinery)
- Maintaining the site (Keeping machinery in place)
What creates a polarity axis?
Changes in cytoskeleton and vesicle formation
What yeast is used to study polarity and why?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Entire genome sequence is annotated so can be used to track genes
Has been used to understand cell cycle, secretion and polarity
Give an internal signal for polarity
Growth and division signals
Give an external signal for polarity
Pheromones for mating and nutritional signals
What structures form when yeast cells bud and divide?
Spatial patterns- axial, bipolar
How are yeast budding events tracked?
Calcofluor which binds to chitin
These show birth scars where sites of previous cell divisions are marked as bright rings on the cell wall
How are yeast budding events tracked?
Calcofluor which binds to chitin
These show birth scars where sites of previous cell divisions are marked as bright rings on the cell wall
What does the position of a new bud on yeast depend on?
Cell type (haploid/diploid)
What sort of yeast cells bud in an axial pattern? (mother and daughter cells form buds adjacent to the previous site of cell separation)
Haploid a and α cells
What sort of yeast cells bud in a bipolar manner? (mother and daughter cells bud at the poles of their ellipsoidal cells
Diploid cells. This contains the pattern to adapt more advantageously
What genes are involved in marking a mother yeast bud neck during a cycle for budding in the next cycle?
BUD3
BUD4
BUD10
septins
What do mutations in BUD3, BUD4 and BUD10 in haploid yeast cells cause?
Change budding to a bipolar pattern
What do mutations in BUD8, BUD9 and RAX2 in yeast cause?
Disrupt the bipolar budding pattern
What genes encode the ends of diploid yeast cells?
BUD8
BUD9
RAX2
What genes encode proteins that decode axial and bipolar marks in yeast?
BUD1
BUD2
BUD5