Cells and Organelles Flashcards
Describe the method of preparation of light microscopy.
- Fix the tissue in formalin to preserve structure.
- Embed the tissue in a paraffin wax
- Section the tissue and place on glass microscope slide
- Stain the tissue for light microscopy and preparation of digitized images (ie: H/E)
What is light microscopy used to identify
organelles, cells, tissues, organs
Describe Hemotoxylin
- basic dye (dye + Cl- )
- reacts with anionic groups (carry a negative charge)
- stain things blue/purple (darker) ; darkness depends on the concentration of the substances.
- BASOPHILIC
Give some examples of basophilic structures
nucleus (due to negative charge from nucleic acids in DNA/RNA) Rough ER (if a lot) due to nucleic acids Cartialge, because lots of proteoglycans/ glycosaminoglycans Glycosaminoglycans (ie: Keratin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate) due to the negative charge on the sulfate (SO4 - ) group
Describe Eosin
- acidic dye (Nat + dye - )
- react with cationic groups (carry a net positive charge)
- stain things red/pink (lighter); darkness depends on the concentration of substances
- EOSINOPHILIC or ACIDOPHILIC
Give some examples of eosinophilic structures
cytoplasmic filaments (like in muscle cells) cytoplasm, especially mitochondria extracellular structures, like type I collagen fibers
What is electron microscophy (TEM) used to identify
subcellular analysis.. the identification of organelles within the cells; electron dense = black areas, electron lucent = white area (does not necessarily correlate to basophilia/eosinophilia)
Describe the method of preparation of TEM
- tissues fixed
- embedded in plastic
- sectioned
- stained with HEAVY METAL (ie: osmium tetroxide)
TEM vs. Light microscopy
TEM allows for a more defined visualization and for examination sub-cellular
TEM uses a heavy metal to stain, LM uses H/E to stain
TEM: prep/embedded onto plastic slides, LM: embed into parrafin wax, prep onto glass slides
Describe the cell
basic structural and functional unit of the mammalian body; variations in structure (and thus function) give variability in body tissue types
What contents do all cells have
nucleus, organelles, cytoplasm
Describe the Nucleus structure, components, function, stain
- double membrane
- contains genetic information
- separates nuclear transcription of DNA to mRNA from the cytoplasmic translation of mRNA into protein
- Contain: chromatin, nucleolus, nuclear envelope, nuclear pores
What is the function of the nucleolus
site of RNA synthesis and DNA replication
initial site of ribosome assembly
What are inclusions
Cell-type specific membrane or non-membrane bound materials in cytoplasm
What are the general functions of the cell membranes?
- semi-permeable barrier that surrounds the organelles
- basic structural organization
- delimit cellular functional compartments and concentrate metabolites for biochemical pathways
- contain lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates to allow it to function
Fluid mosaic model
proteins in the plasma membrane can move laterally (PM is not a rigid structure)
What are cell membranes composed of?
-phospholipid bilayer: two fatty acid chains and a polar head group
fatty acid chains directed inward (to exclude water), heads directed towards cytoplasm/extracellular fluid
-proteins, lipids, cholesterol, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, etc. all on/in membrane
What way do the carbohydrate group of glycoproteins usually face?
Towards the extracellular side (outside of the cell)
How does the plasma membrane appear in TEM? in LM?
TEM: two outer electron dense lines (polar head groups), one inner electron lucent line (fatty acid tails); called the “trilaminar membrane)
LM: a line
Describe cholesterol; what is its function? what is its structure?
Function: Structural rigidity; prevent extremes in consistency of membrane
Structure: BOTH a hydrophilic and hydrophobic portion
-OH aligns with polar head groups (hydrophilic)
-steroid rings tuck with fatty acid (hydrophobic)
Describe Integral Membrane Proteins (general)
- partially or fully embedded in the lipid bilaryer
- CAN move laterally within the membrane
- CANNOT be removed without destroying the membrane
Describe Transmembrane Proteins (general)
type of integral membrane proteins that span the bilayer and have domains that are exposed to each surface of the membrane
glycoprotein
an integral membrane protein that has a carbohydrate attached (on the extracellular side)
Peripheral Protein
- proteins that are indirectly linked to the plasma membrane via protein-protein interactions or protein-phospholipid interactions
- DO NOT insert into the phospholipid
- usually in the cytoplasm (intracellular) and attached to cytoskeleton
Transporter Protein
- aka “pump” protein
- type of transmembrane protein that transports ions, amino acids, and sugars across membrane
- REQUIRES ATP
- basically just move things in/out of cell
Channel proteins
form pores in the membrane
Anchor Proteins
- aka “linker” proteins
- transmembrane protein that are attached to proteins in the cytoskeleton, and thus link the cytskeleton to proteins in the extracellular matrix
Receptor Proteins
transmembrane proteins that bind to extracellular proteins (ligands), which initiates cell signaling within the cytoplasm
Structural proteins
function in forming cell-cell anchoring or adhesion junctions can also form cell-ECM adhesion junctions
Describe the structure, function, and location (in the body and cell) of the glycocalyx
Structure: glycoproteins + glycolipids = carbohydrate coat on the extracellular surface of cells
Function: protect the cell surface, cell-cell interactions, hold fluids to the cell surface, receptor sites, enzymatic ractions
Found: in the small intestines and kidney (PCT)
Describe Freeze Fracture
lets you look at the organization of the PM
Freeze the cell, and hit it to break apart the cell membrane; this is how you can get integral membrane proteins out (you need to destroy the membrane). This results in a P side (Protoplasmic) and an E side (external or Extracellular side). Integral membrane proteins will go to one side.
** can do to organelle cell membranes or plasma membrane!
Which side has more proteins on it after freeze fracture? Why?
P side (faces the cell/cytoplasm), because integral proteins can be attached to the cytoplasmic face of the phosphlipid bilayer via peripheral and cytoplasmic proteins (anchored to the cytoskeleton) so when its hit the the protiens are pulled towards the cytoplasm
What does the result of freeze fracture look like in a TEM?
P side: lots of bumps (integral proteins)
E side: lots of pits (cavity left over from the integral membrane protein being pulled through
How many bilayers does the nucleus contain?
2 bilayers; 4 layers
What is chromatin? what is it made up of, and what is its function
complex of DNA, histones, and other nuclear proteins
Function: 1) to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, 2) to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis, 3) to prevent DNA damage, and 4) to control gene expression and DNA replicatio
What is the nucleosome? Structure/Function
smallest unit of chromatin
DNA + histones (beads on a string)
TRANSCRIPTIONALLY ACTIVE
found in euchromatin, heterchromatin and chromosomes
What are chromosomes? what are they made of/ how do they form?
- highly condensed loops of chromatin (the ones in mitosis are the most condensed form); (chromatic fibers/fibrils)
- condensing of chromatin is done via more organization around histones
Euchromatin; what is it, and what does it look like in TEM/LM?
stretched out form of chromatin
transcriptionally ACTIVE (prominent in metabolically active cells)
LM: less basophilic areas in nucleus
TEM: electron lucent areas in nucleus
Heterochromatic; what is it and what does it look like in TEM/LM
highly condensed form of chromatin
transcriptionally INACTIVE
LM: basophilic clumbs in nucleus
TEM: electon dense
Where can heterochromatin be found?
all in nucleolus:
- marginal (around the perimeter)
- karysome (clumbs distributed throughout the nucleus)
- associated with nucleolus
What is the structure of the nucleolus? how does it stain?
contains rRNA
NOT surrounded by a membrane
stain: LM: basophilic; TEM: different electron densities
Nuclear Envelope; structure/ function
Inner and outer nuclear membrane, with an intervening perinuclear space
separates the nuclear contents and function from cytoplasm
what is the inner nuclear membrane in contact with?
the nuclear lamina
what is the function of the nuclear lamina?
nuclear organization, cell cycle regulation, and differentiation
What is the perinuclear space continuous with?
the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum;
makes sense so you can transport ribosomes; (RER is continuous with the outer membrane and inserts into the perinuclear space)
what is the outer nuclear membrane continuous with? associated with?
continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum ( SER) and associated with ribosomes
Nuclear Pores; where are they found? what is their function? what do they look like in TEM?
found when the inner and outer nuclear membranes are continous with each other;
function: bidirectional movement of molecules between the nucleaus and the cytoplasm
in TEM: look like braks/gaps in the marginal heterochromatin
Nuclear pore structure
central pore surrounded by 8 protein subunits
How are things transported through the nuclear pore?
the central pore acts like a channel where ions and small ions can freely diffuse through the; proteins need signals to actively transport through