Cellular Communication and Signaling Flashcards
What are microvilli?
Microvilli are tiny, hair-like projections on the surface of certain cells, primarily epithelial cells lining the intestines and other absorptive surfaces.
They are designed to increase the surface area of the cell, thereby enhancing its ability to absorb nutrients and other substances. Each microvillus contains a core of actin filaments that provide structural support.
What is the lipid bilayer permeable and impermeable to?
Permeable to: Non-polar, uncharged molecules
Impermeable to: Ions and large, charged molecules
Are the phospholipid byliayer choline heads polar or non polar?
Polar = hydrophilic = water loving
*Hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
Are the fatty acyl tails of the bilayer polar or non polar?
Nonpolar = hydrophobic = water hating = prevent water soluble solutes from passing though the middle of the bilayer.
Can ions and glucose cross the lipid bilayer?
No
Can O2, CO2 and steroid hormones cross the bilayer?
Yes
What percentage of the lipid bilayer is phospholipids?
75%
What percentage of the lipid bilayer is cholesterol?
20%
What makes up 5% of the lipid bilayer?
Glycolipids
What is the composition of the head of glycolipids?
Sugar (such as galactose)
What is the composition of the head of phospholipid?
Alcohol and phosphate
What is the composition of the head of cholesterol?
OH group
What does the cell membrane form?
A semi-permeable barrier
What makes up the cell membrane?
Lipid bilayer + membrane proteins
What are membrane proteins purpose?
Communication and exchange
What is on either side of a cell membrane?
Extracellular fluid/space
Cytosol
What principle is “Brownian motion” used to describe?
Everything is in constant motion - in the context of the cell membrane it is referring to the fact that the lipids in the bilayer and the membrane proteins are fluid/flexible.
It is important that the small molecules are flexible and dynamic for changing protein and lipid populations, cell growth, secretion and self-sealing
What side of the membrane are microvilli?
Apical
Where does epithelia sit?
ON an extracellular matrix structure called the basement membrane or basal lamina.
What joins the basal lamina to epithelial cells?
Hemidesmosomes
What does the basement membrane/basal lamina prevent?
Cell movement
What proteins are made in and secreted from epithelial cells?
Collagen and Laminin
What causes epidermolysis bullosa?
A collagen malfunction meaning that the basement membrane is no longer attached to skin epithelia
What is the predominant symptom resulting from epidermolysis bullosa?
Blistering
What are the three main functions of tight junctions?
Barrier - limiting the passage of ions and molecules between cells in the paracellular pathway
Gate - can allow certain solutes to flow through the paracellular pathway
Fence - prevent movement of proteins between apical and basolaterial domains
What forms the continuous structure of tight junctions around each epithelial cell?
Strands of Claudin - proteins linked to lipid bilayer of two cells pulling the bilayers very close together
What are the three main protein families of tight junctions?
JAMs (junctional adhesion molecules)
Claudins
Occludins
What is the name of the scaffolding proteins that connect tight junctions to the actin cytoskeleton?
Zona Occludin
Approximately how many types of Claudia proteins are there?
27
Which type of claudin protein is associated with transport?
Claudin 2
Where is Claudin 1 found?
Tight epithelia of the kidney and skin
Why is lack of Claudin 1 lethal?
Dehydration
What does Claudin 2 do?
Allows for transport of ions and water through tight junctions
What are examples of areas of the body where claudin 2 are?
Intestinal crypts and proximal renal tubule
What type of epithelia are claudin 2 found?
leaky epithelial
What is the structure of adheren junctions?
Belt structure = layers of actin proteins
Where are adheren junctions located?
Beneath tight junctions where two cells are in close contact
What does the formation of adherens junction initiate?
epithelia formation
What is E-cadherin?
Protein that makes up adheren junctions and directly connects cells.
What structure of adheren junctions enables some cell to cell signalling?
E-cadherins
What do desmosomal cadherins do?
Hold two cells together at a single spot
Are desmosomes continuous?
No
How do Cadherin and E-cadherins differ?
Cadherin holds cells together in a single spot, whereas E-cadherin is continuous.
What filament is embedded within hemidesmosomes plaque?
Keratin
What does plectin join keratin filaments to?
Integrins
What are gap junctions?
Tiny channels between cells
What are gap junctions made of?
Connexin proteins
How many connexin proteins are there in a single gap junction?
Six connexins = 1 connexon
2 connexons = 1 gap junction
Therefore, 12 connexins in a single gap junction
What is the key function of gap junctions?
Communication
What are the three main cytoskeletal types?
Actin Filaments
Intermediate filaments
Microtubules
What do actin filaments do?
Determine cell shape and drive movement of cells
What do intermediate filaments do?
Provide mechanical strength and resistance to shear stress with a diameter of 10nm.
What do microtubules do?
Position organelles, railroads for intracellular vesicle transport, form mitotic spindle, motile components of cilia
What is the diameter of microtubules?
25 nm
What is the diameter of actin filaments?
5-9 nm
What is the structure of actin filaments?
An actin filament is a 2 stranded helical polymers of actin.
Where do actin filaments assemble?
Adherens junctions
microvilli
What does cross-linking of proteins in actin filaments do?
Allows bundling to contribute to cell and microvilli shape
What is the structure of microtubules?
Long straight hollow cylinders made from alpha and beta tubulins
Are actin filaments or microtubules more rigid?
Microtubules
What are microtubules needed for?
Cell motility, cell division, and vesicle movement
What is kinesis and dynein and what do they do?
Molecular motors that allow transport of vesicles and organelles around the cell using ATP - in microtubules
What are the 4 types of cell to cell junctions?
Gap Junctions
Adhering junctions
Tight junctions
Desmosomes
What is the order that cellular signalling pathways occur?
Stimulus > Ligand > Receptor > Signal transduction > cellular response > negative feedback
What is the solubility of angiotensin 2?
Water soluble
*Therefor extracellular membrane receptor