Chapter 8 Cell-Cell Interactions Flashcards
Primary Cell Wall
The outermost layer of a plant cell wall, made of cellulose fibers and gelatinous polysaccharides, that defines the shape of the cell and withstands the turgor pressure of the plasma membrane.
Pectin
A gelatinous polysaccharide found in the primary cell wall of plant cells. Attracts and holds water, forming a gel that helps keep the cell wall moist.
Turgor Pressure
The outward pressure exerted by the fluid contents of a plant cell against its cell wall.
Secondary Cell Wall
The inner layer of a plant cell wall formed by certain cells as they mature. Provides support or protection.
Lignin
A substance found in the secondary cell walls of some plants that is exceptionally stiff and strong. Most abundant in woody plant parts.
Extracellular Mix (EMC)
A complex meshwork of proteins (e.g., collagen, fibronectin) and polysaccharides secreted by animal cells and in which they are embedded.
What is the Extracellular Mix (EMC) most important function?
Structural support
The fibrous component of animal Extracellular Mix (EMC) is dominated by _______________.
A cable like protein called collagen
Collagen
A fibrous, pliable, cable-like glycoprotein that is a major component of the extracellular matrix of animal cells. Various subtypes differ in their tissue distribution.
Integrins
Any of a class of cell-surface proteins that bind to fibronectins and other proteins in the extracellular matrix, thus holding cells in place.
Fibronectins
An abundant protein in the extracellular matrix that binds to other ECM components and to integrins in plasma membranes; helps anchor cells in place. Numerous subtypes are found in different tissues.
Why is the direct linkage between the cytoskeleton and EMC important?
In addition to keeping individual cells in place, it helps adjacent cells adhere to each other via their common connection to the EMC.
If it breaks down, cancer can develop.
Metastasis
The spread of cancerous cells from their site of origin to distant sites in the body where they may establish additional tumors.
*Happens when EMC-cytoskeleton linkage break down and cells grow uncontrollably forming a tumor, can break away and form tumors throughout the body
What is the state of being composed of many cells that adhere to each other and do not all express the same genes with the result that some cells have specialized functions.
Multicellularity
______________ organisms are made up of cells that adhere to each other and have distinctive structures and functions.
Multicellularity
A group of similar cells that function as a unit, such as muscle tissue or epithelial tissue.
Tissue
What is the middle lamella?
It connects adjacent plant cells and is made of gelatinous polysaccharides called pectins.
*It serves as glue.
Epithelium
An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. Also called epithelial tissue.
Tight junction
A type of cell-cell attachment structure that links the plasma membranes of adjacent animal cells, forming a barrier that restricts movement of substances in the space between the cells. Most abundant in epithelia (e.g., the intestinal lining). Compare with desmosome and gap junction.
_____________ is a cell-cell attachment imposed of specialized proteins in the plasma membranes of adjacent animal cells.
tight joint
Why is tight joint important ?
It forms a tight barrier between organs and prevents ions from leaking in our out. Important for organs like the stomach and the intestines.
Desmosome
A type of cell-cell attachment structure, consisting of cadherin proteins, that binds the cytoskeletons of adjacent animal cells together. Found where cells are strongly attached to each other. Compare with gap junction and tight junction.
Selective adhesion
The tendency of cells of one tissue type to adhere to other cells of the same type.
Antibody
An immunoglobulin protein, produced by B cells, that can bind to a specific part of an antigen, tagging it for attack by the immune system. All antibody molecules have a similar Y-shaped structure and, in their monomer form, consist of two identical light chains and two identical heavy chains.
Cadherins
Any of a class of cell-surface proteins involved in cell adhesion and important for coordinating movements of cells during embryological development.
Synaptic signaling involves
A) endocrine signals B) paracrine signals C) autocrine signals D) neurotransmitters
D) neurotransmitters
In synaptic signaling, a neurotransmitter is passed from one cell to another.
________________ provide the physical basis for selective adhesion in may cells and are a critical component of the desmosomes that join mature cells.
Cadherins
In plants, gaps in cell walls create direct connections between the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. At these connections, named _____________ the plasma membrane and they cytoplasm of the two cells are continuous.
plasmodesmata
*smooth ER runs through theses holes.
What are communication portals in plant cells?
plasmodesmata
What is the key feature of gap junctions ?
to specialize proteins that create channels between animal cells
*small molecules such as amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides move between the channels.
____________ are usually small molecules and are typically present in minute concentrations.
Hormones
In cell-cell signaling, most ____________________ signals diffuse across the plasma membrane and enter the cytoplasm of their target cell.
lipid-soluble
Large or _______________ cell-cell signals re lipid-soluble and do not cross the plasma membrane.
hydrophilic
*To affect a target cell, they have to be recognized at the cell surface.
How do cells receive and respond to signals from distant cells?
signal reception
signal processing
signal response
signal deactivation
In signal reception, the presence of an appropriate receptor dictates what?
which cells will respond to a particular hormone.
In signal reception, what are two critical points?
Receptors are dynamic: the sensitivy of a cell to a particular hormone may change over time.
receptors can be blocked: that’s why beta blockers are prescribed
A protein that changes it shape and activity after binding to a signaling molecule.
signal receptor
In signal reception, receptors that respond to lipid-soluble signals are locate where?
inside the cell, because the signals readily diffuse through the plasma membrane.