Cell Structure 2 Flashcards
What are the parts of the endoplasmic reticulum?
Rough ER
Smooth ER
What does each part of the ER synthesize?
SER: components of the membrane
What are the purposes of SER?
- Membrane synthesis
- Synthesis of steroid hormones
- Detox of lipid-soluble drugs, metabolic waste, and ingested toxins.
- Calcium homeostasis
What is the mechanism by which SER detoxifies?
Cytochrome P450 enzyme system oxidizes toxins to an inactive form or into parts that can be excreted (in liver: either in bile or excreted by kidneys)
In which cells is SER particularly abundant?
Cells that produce steroid hormones like cells in adrenocorticoids, testes, etc.
How is SER involved in Ca homeostasis?
Ca pumps used to sequester Ca from cytoplasm and stored in SER; proteins in membranes act as channels and can be stimulated to release Ca into cytoplasm.
In muscle: Ca regulates muscle contraction (sarcoplasmic reticulum)
What does RER synthesize?
Integral membrane and secreted proteins via ribosomes (many ribosomes = polyribosomes)
Qualities of RER
- Studded w/ ribosomes on cytoplasmic surface
- Continuous with nuclear envelope
- Initial site of posttranslational modification of proteins and lipids
How do plasma cells synthesize antibodies?
Massive proliferation of RER, which makes antibodies (which are a kind of protein).
Where are ribosomes found?
Free in the cytosol or bound to the RER
What do ribosomes do?
Catalyze synthesis of proteins (i.e. protein translation of mRNA in cytoplasm); can have polysomes, which is translation of the same mRNA by several ribosomes
Where will protein synthesis occur if mRNA is coding for a soluble protein?
Cytoplasm
What is different if mRNA is coding for a secreted or transmembrane protein?
The bit of protein already synthesized will have a signal sequence on the end.
Also, synthesis will occur at the membrane as the ribosome binds to the membrane and synthesizes into the cell.
What is a signal sequence, and what does it do?
A chain of ~20 very hydrophobic amino acids that allows the synthesized protein to gain access into the cell membrane by binding to the signal recognition particle, which in turn also binds to the SRP receptor on the ribosomes located on the surface of the RER.
Describe the process by which ribosomes start synthesis.
- mRNA released from nucleus into cytoplasm.
- mRNA is bound by the ribosomes’ small subunit.
- After small subunit binds, large subunit binds to the complex.
- Two subunits together now begin to translate mRNA into proteins.
Describe the protein synthesis pathway by RER ribosomes.
- Protein synthesis in cytoplasm begins.
- Protein synthesis inhibited by binding of signal recognition particle to signal sequence.
- Protein synthesis starts up again once the SRP binds to SRP receptor on RER surface and forms pore into RER.
- Signal sequence is cleaved once inside the RER.
- Protein synthesis continues to completion in the RER, including any post translational modification (e.g. addition of carbohydrates to susceptible amino terminal).
- Ribosome dissociates from RER surface while protein folds and is then released into the cytoplasm.
Why does the RER determine plasma membrane polarity?
Enzymes that add carbohydrates to the protein also modify the heads of phospholipid molecules (to form glycolipids) inside the ER lumen-facing side.
Where is the default place for material synthesized in the RER?
Golgi apparatus - stacks of flattened membranes near the nucleus
What are the functions of the Golgi apparatus?
- Further post-translational modification of proteins
- Assembly of multi-subunit proteins
- Protein sorting and packaging into secretory vesicles
What types of post-trans mod occur in the Golgi?
Adding sugars, getting phosphorylated, getting sulfated
What are the parts of the Golgi?
- Cis (forming) face - vesicles from RER fuse here
- Medial (intermediate) face
- Trans (exit) face - sorting of proteins
Each layer involved in post-translational modification of proteins in vesicles.
What is the ERGIC?
Endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi intermediate compartment: mediates traffic b/w ER and Golgi complex, sorting cargo.
What role does the trans face play in lysosomal protein packaging?
Here, proteins are modified to add mannose 6-phosphate, which binds to M6P receptors located at that part of the Golgi, causing the lysosomal enzymes to concentrate there. Clathrin mediates budding of vesicles, which then lose the clathrin coat and remain in the cytoplasm as lysosomes.
What are the 3 destinations of proteins leaving the Golgi apparatus?
- Clathrin-coated vesicles that bud off into secretory granules that will fuse to the cell membrane and release contents into the extracellular matrix.
- Non-clathrin coated vesicles, which fuse to the membrane and deposit the proteins to become part of the plasma membrane.
- Lysosomes free in the cytoplasm.
What is a primary lysosome?
Vesicle that buds off the Golgi apparatus with lysosomal enzymes (acid hydrolases) inside.
What is a secondary lysosome?
A primary lysosome that fuses with an endosome containing something that requires breaking down.