Cells Flashcards
Plasma membrane
Selective barrier that surrounds the cell
Eukaryotic cell
A cell with DNA contained in a double membrane-bound nucleus
Prokaryotic cell
A cell with DNA concentrated in a region called the nucleoid
Cytoplasm
The contents of a cell, excluding the nucleus
Microvilli
Projections that increase the surface area of a cell
Nucleus
The container for most genes in a eukaryotic cell
Chromosomes
Discrete units of DNA that carry genetic information
Nucleolus
A structure inside the nucleus that synthesizes ribosomes
Ribosomes
Complexes of rRNA and protein; synthesize proteins from RNA; can be free in the cytosol or bound to ER
Endomembrane system
The multi-organelle pathway that regulates protein traffic and performs metabolism
Endoplasmic reticulum
An extensive network of convoluted membranes
Smooth ER
Lacks surface ribosomes; synthesizes lipids, detoxifies, stores calcium ions
Rough ER
Has surface ribosomes; modifies proteins and phospholipids
Golgi apparatus
Shipping center of the cell; receives at the cis face from ER, sends at the trans face to other areas
Cisternal maturation model
In the Golgi, the stacks of cisternae move from the cis to the trans face
Lysosomes
Membrane-bound sac of hydrolytic enzymes
Phagocytosis
Cell breaking down food particles
Autophagy
Cell recycling damaged components
Vacuoles
Large vesicles that store materials
Mitochondria
Site of cellular respiration, change fuel to energy (ATP)
Chloroplasts
Site of photosynthesis, change energy to organic molecules
Endosymbiont theory
An idea that early eukaryotes assimilated prokaryotes, forming a merged eukaryote with mitochondria and/or chloroplasts
Peroxisome
An organelle that removes hydrogen from substrates
Cytoskeleton
A network of fibers that organizes cellular structures and activities
Microtubules
Thin, hollow tubes made of tubulin; includes centrioles, cilia, and flagella
Microfilaments
Two intertwined strands of actin; includes myosin and cortical microfilaments
Intermediate filaments
Fibrous proteins coiled into cables
Amphipathic
Describing a molecule with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
Fluid mosaic model
A description of the cell membrane as a mosaic of proteins bobbing in a fluid bilayer of phospholipids
Cholesterol in the membrane
Moderates membrane fluidity to prevent breakup or solidification at extreme temperatures
Integral proteins
Membrane proteins that partly or fully penetrate the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayer
Peripheral proteins
Membrane proteins that are only loosely bound to the lipid bilayer
Six main functions
Transport, enzymatic activity, signal transduction, cell-cell recognition, intercellular joining, attachment to ECM/cytoskeleton
Glycolipids
Lipids bonded to a membrane carbohydrate
Glycoproteins
Proteins bonded to a membrane carbohydrate
Transport proteins
Facilitate movement of hydrophilic substances across the membrane
Channel proteins
Contain a hydrophilic channel that allows molecules to pass across
Carrier proteins
Change shape to shuttle their cargo across the membrane
Diffusion
“Spreading out” phenomenon due to thermal energy of atoms/molecules
Concentration gradient
The “slope” of concentration, from high to low
Passive transport
Cell expends zero energy
Osmosis
Diffusion through a selectively permeable membrane
Animal cell tonicity
Isotonic (ideal), hypertonic, hypotonic
Plant cell tonicity
Turgid (ideal), flaccid, plasmolyzed
Ion channels
Channel proteins for ions
Sodium-potassium pump
A carrier protein that moves sodium outside the cell and potassium into the cell, both against their concentration gradients
Membrane potential
The slight difference in charge outside cells compared to inside
Cotransporters
Transport proteins that couple the downhill movement of one solute with the uphill movement of a second
Exocytosis
Secretion of molecules out of cells
Endocytosis
Taking in of outside matter by a cell
Phagocytosis
Cellular eating; extension of pseudopodia around a large particle to eat
Pinocytosis
Cellular drinking; intake of tiny amounts of extracellular fluid
Receptor-mediated endocytosis
Pinocytosis that is triggered by ligands binding to receptors
Paracrine signaling
Release of chemicals to all nearby cells
Synaptic signaling
Release of neurotransmitter due to an electrical signal
Endocrine signaling
Release of organism-wide hormone that only some cells respond to
Three stages of cell signaling
Reception, transduction, response
Ligand
A signaling molecule that binds to a specific receptor; also called first messengers
Three types of receptors
Ion channel receptors, G protein-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinases
Second messengers
Water soluble molecules that spread within the cell to trigger responses