Cell Structure & Function: Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Prokaryotic cell?

A

are cells that do not have a true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

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2
Q

What is a Eukaryotic cell?

A

cells that have a nucleus enclosed within membranes

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3
Q

What do Eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells have in common?

A

The plasma membrane, cytosol, DNA, RNA,

protein and ribosomes

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4
Q

What are the main differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?

A

Eukaryotic cells are much larger and have a membrane bound nucleus while prokaryotic cells are much smaller and their nucleus is not membrane-bound

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5
Q

What is the cytoplasm?

A

is everything inside the plasma membrane including the organelles,
but not including the nucleus

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6
Q

What is cytosol?

A

The fluid portion of the cytoplasm

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7
Q

What does cytosol consist of?

A

water plus dissolved and suspended substances (eg. ions, ATP, proteins, lipids)

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8
Q

What organelles make up the endomembrane system?

A

Nucleus
Endoplasmic Reticulum (smooth and rough)
Golgi apparatus
Lysosomes

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9
Q

What is the endomembrane system?

A

A network of membranes inside and around a eukaryotic cell and organelles that work together to modify, package, and transport lipids and proteins

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10
Q

Order of the sizes of microvilli, cilia and flagellum

A

Microvilli < Cilia < Flagellum

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11
Q

What is the plasma membrane?

A

is a selectively permeable barrier controlling
the passage of substances in and out of the cell (acts as a physical barrier separating the inside and outside of the cell)

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12
Q

What is the plasma membrane made of?

A

it is made of a double layer of phospholipids with embedded proteins

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13
Q

How does the fat portion of a phospholipid react with water?

A

It is hydrophobic so it repels water

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14
Q

How does the phosphate (head) portion of a phospholipid react with water?

A

It is hydrophilic so it will face the water

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15
Q

What does a phospholipid consist of?

A

a hydrophilic polar head (phosphate) and a hydrophobic lipid tails (fatty acids) which are arranged as a double layer around cytoplasm, tail to tail

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16
Q

What are some features of plasma membrane proteins

A

An often amphipathic protein that is associated with the plasma membrane. These mediate movement of hydrophilic substances, allow cell-to-cell identification, adhesion between cells, attach to other structures and facilitate intercellular communication.

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17
Q

How do plasma membrane proteins react with water?

A

They are often amphipathic so they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. This is to allow molecules to pass through the plasma membrane

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18
Q

What are integral proteins

A

proteins that are embedded (partially or fully) into the membrane

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19
Q

What are transmembrane proteins?

A

proteins that fully span the entire membrane, contact extracellular
and cytoplasmic areas

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20
Q

What are Peripheral membrane proteins?

A

proteins that are associated with the

membrane, but not actually embedded in it

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21
Q

What are the functions of the plasma membrane proteins?

A

transport, enzymatic activity, signal transduction, cell-cell recognition, intercellular joining and attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix (ECM)

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22
Q

Example of transport function of the plasma membrane

A

channels or transporters may be

general or selective, gated or not

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23
Q

Example of enzymatic activity function of the plasma membrane

A

Carry out a chemical reaction,
may or may not be a part of a
team of enzymes

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24
Q

Example of signal transduction function of the plasma membrane

A

External signalling molecule causing transduction of information to the inside of
the cell

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25
Q

Example of cell-cell recognition function of the plasma membrane

A

Use of glycoproteins (carbohydrate
+ protein) as molecular signatures
of the extracellular side of the cell

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26
Q

Example of intercellular joining function of the plasma membrane

A

Gap and tight junctions

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27
Q

Example of attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix (ECM) function of the plasma membrane

A

fibronectin mediates contact between cell surface integrins and ECM (eg. collagen).
can facilitate movement

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28
Q

What is the fluid mosaic model?

A

The model used to describe proteins and other structure moving freely in a fluid bilayer of phospholipids.

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29
Q

What is the nucleus?

A

The largest distinct structure inside the cell

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30
Q

What is the structure of the nucleus

A

It is enclosed by a double lipid bilayer
called the nuclear envelope, continuous
with rough ER and has entry and exit through nuclear pores. Has the nucleolus in the centre

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31
Q

What is the function of the nucleus?

A
  • to house/protect DNA in eukaryotic cells
  • Make RNA and assemble ribosomes
  • pores regulate the movement of substances (eg protein and mRNA) in and out
  • Molecule segregation to allow temporal and spatial control of cell function
32
Q

What is the nucleolus?

A

is the distinct structure present in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells

33
Q

What is the function of the nucleolus?

A

rRNA production and the assembly of small and large subunits of ribosomes

34
Q

What is the nuclear envelope?

A

Lipid bilayer enclosing the nucleus, continuous with the rough ER

35
Q

What is the function of the nuclear pore and where are they?

A

Structures in the nuclear envelope that allow passage of certain materials between the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm

36
Q

What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)?

A

is the nucleic acid that encodes our phenotype

37
Q

What is histone?

A

Protein molecule which binds with 7 others to form a nucleosome

38
Q

What is nucleosome?

A

Bead-like structure in chromatin, composed of a short length of DNA wrapped twice around a core of histone proteins

39
Q

What is chromatin?

A

‘Strings’ of nucleosomes that are wound together to form fibres.

40
Q

What is a chromosome?

A

are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the nucleus of almost every cell in our body

41
Q

What is a gene?

A

a DNA segment that contributes to phenotype/function

42
Q

How many chromosomes are in a human cell?

A

Humans are diploid so have 2N chromosomes = 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), one from each parent. There are 22 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes

43
Q

What is a ribosome and its function?

A

the organelle that is the site of protein production/synthesis

44
Q

Where are ribosomes found in the cell??

A

free in the cytoplasm - making proteins to be used in the cytosol (non-endomembrane destinations)
OR attached to the RER - making non-cytosolic proteins/endomembrane

45
Q

How are ribosomes made?

A

Subunits are assembled in the
nucleolus leave through
nuclear pores (large and small subunit)

46
Q

What is the endoplasmic reticulum?

A

an extensive network of tubes and

tubules, stretching out from the nuclear membrane

47
Q

What is the function of the rough ER?

A

Major function is production of:
• Secreted proteins
• Membrane proteins
• Organelle proteins

proteins enter lumen within the rough ER for folding
Rough ER membrane surrounds the protein to form transport vesicles destined for the Golgi

48
Q

What is the structure of the RER?

A

A membrane that is continuous with the nuclear envelope

Dotted with attached ribosomes

49
Q

What is the smooth ER?

A

an extension of the RER

50
Q

What is the function of the SER

A

– very cell/tissue-type specific

The major function is as a housing unit for proteins and enzymes
Synthesizes lipids, including steroids and phospholipids
Storage of cell-specific proteins, not all cells make all proteins

51
Q

What is the main difference between SER and RER

A

SER doesn’t have ribosomes (doesn’t make proteins)

52
Q

The function of SER in liver

A

Houses enzymes for detoxification and glucose release

53
Q

The function of SER in muscles

A

Stores calcium ions which are used for contraction

54
Q

What is the sarcoplasmic reticulum?

A

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a form of smooth muscle endoplasmic reticulum (ER) found in skeletal muscle that functions as a regulator of Ca2+ storage and release homeostasis during and after muscle contraction

55
Q

What is the cis face of the Golgi apparatus?

A

The receiving side

56
Q

What is the trans face of the golgi apparatus?

A

The shipping side

57
Q

What is the Golgi apparatus made of?

A

is made up 3-20 flattened
membranous sacs called cisternae, stacked
on top of one another (“pita bread”)

58
Q

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

A

modify, sort, package and transport proteins received from
the rough ER using enzymes in each cisternae

Formation of:
• secretory vesicles (proteins for exocytosis)
• membrane vesicles (PM molecules)
• transport vesicles (molecules to lysosome)

59
Q

What are lysosomes?

A

vesicles formed from Golgi membrane and contain powerful digestive enzymes. They have membrane proteins that pump H+
in to maintain acidic pH and the rest of the cell is protected by a membrane

60
Q

What is the function of lysosomes?

A

Main function is digestion of:
• substances that enter a cell
• cell components e.g. organelles - autophagy
• entire cells - autolysis

61
Q

What is Gaucher metabolic disorder?

A

a particular lipid (glucocerebroside) is poorly degraded
• results in a severe phenotype in humans

(Failure of a single lysosome enzyme can cause severe disease as digestion by lysosomes is v important)

62
Q

What is the function of mitochondria?

A

generation of ATP through cellular respiration

63
Q

What are mitochondria made of?

A
  • Outer mitochondrial membrane
  • Inner mitochondrial membrane, with folds called cristae
  • Fluid filled interior cavity, called the mitochondrial matrix
64
Q

What is cristae?

A

the inner mitochondrial membrane

65
Q

What is the mitochondrial matrix?

A

the fluid filled interior cavity

66
Q

What is the cytoskeleton?

A

the structural support system of the cell

Contains fibres or filaments that help to maintain the
size, shape and integrity of the cell:
•Act as scaffolding across the cell
•Involved in intracellular transportation and cell movement

67
Q

What are the microfilaments in the cytoskeleton made of?

A

Comprised of actin molecules assembled in two long chains, twisted around each other
Assembled and disassembled as required - dynamic

68
Q

What is the function of microfilaments?

A

Bear tension and weight by anchoring the cytoskeleton to plasma membrane proteins, and promote amoeboid motility if required (eg. macrophage)

69
Q

Where are microfilaments found?

A

Found around the periphery and lining the interior of cell

70
Q

What are the intermediate filaments in the cytoskeleton made of?

A

Comprised of a diverse range of different materials; one example: keratin
Found in the cytoplasm of the cell.

71
Q

What is the function of the intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton?

A
  • bear tension and weight throughout cell, e.g., during cell anchoring,
  • act as scaffold for cellular organelles, e.g., the nucleus.
72
Q

What are the microtubules of the cytoskeleton made of?

A

tubular structure,
Comprised of tubulin dimers (alpha and beta), coiled, to form a tube
Extends from centriole into cytoplasm/nucleus

73
Q

What is the function of the microtubules of the cytoskeleton?

A

Support cell shape and size
• Guide for movement of organelles,
• e.g., vesicles from Golgi to membrane
• Chromosome organization – cell division
• Support and movement of cilia /flagella

74
Q

Diameter of microfilament

A

Diameter: 7 nm

75
Q

Diameter of intermediate filament

A

Diameter: 8-12 nm.

76
Q

Diameter of micro-tubule

A

Diameter: 25 nm with the central lumen of 15 nm diameter