Control of Cell Differentiation

Question 1

Differentiation has defined stages

Answer 1

Stem Cell –> Progenitors (adult stem cell) –>Terminally differentiated cell 1

Question 2

Define potency?

What are the different level of cell potency?

Answer 2

The extend to which a cell can differentiate
Pluripotent e.g. stem cell
Multipotent e.g. progenitors (adult stem cell)
Unipotent e.g. terminally differentiated cell

Question 3

What is the origin of a teratoma?

Answer 3

Stem Cell

Question 4

What makes cells different from one another?

Answer 4

Distinct functional roles
Different proteins (associated with functions)

Question 5

What are the two domains of a transcription factor?

Answer 5

DNA binding domain that binds to enhancer regions

Transcriptional activation domain

Question 6

What controls cell differentiation?

Answer 6

Cell specialisation is driven by TF’s that bind to DNA, turn on a specific gene to produce a protein that leads to specialisation

Question 7

In specialised cells, which proteins are unique to that cell and which are shared between all cells?

• proteins defining the cell type features
• metabolic proteins
• structural proteins
• regulatory proteins

Answer 7

• proteins defining the cell type features HIGHYL UNIQUE
• metabolic proteins UNIQUE
• structural proteins SHARED
• regulatory proteins SHARED

Question 8

For an erythrocyte give an example of each of the following

• proteins defining the cell type features
• metabolic protein
• structural proteins
• regulatory proteins

Answer 8

Protein cell type feature – haemoglobin
Metabolic protein – enzyme
Structural proteins – present – spectrins
Regulatory proteins – EPO receptor (promotes cell survival and differentiation)

Question 9

What is the from of EPO receptors in red blood cells?

Answer 9

EPO binds to receptors and promotes RBC differentiation.

EPO levels high when O2 is low

Question 10

Give an example of a DNA transcription factor

Answer 10

CREB transcription factor

Question 11

Clinical implications:

- B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Answer 11

failure to mature from progenitor cell to B cell.
Intermediate cell types released from bone marrow
Amorphus