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Cellular Neuroscience > Cytology of Cells > Flashcards

Cytology of Cells Flashcards

1
Q

Network (biology)

A

a method of representing systems as complex sets of binary interactions or relations between various biological entities

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2
Q

Amino acids (biology)

A
  • an organic molecule that is made up of a basic amino group (−NH2), an acidic carboxyl group (−COOH), and an organic R group (or side chain) that is unique to each.
  • Building block of proteins
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3
Q

Protein (biology)

A
  • catalyze the vast majority of chemical reactions that occur in the cell.
  • They provide many of the structural elements of a cell
  • they help to bind cells together into tissues.
  • Some act as contractile elements to make movement possible.
  • Some are responsible for the transport of vital materials from the outside of the cell (“extracellular”) to its inside (“intracellular”).
  • Controls gene expression
  • And more!
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4
Q

Filaments (biology)

A

a long chain comprised of protein subunits.

Protein subunits can either be single protein molecules or polypeptide chains that join to form a protein complex

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5
Q

Plasma membrane (description)

A

Lipid bilayer with embedded proteins

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6
Q

The cell membrane is

A

a phospholipid bilayer

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7
Q

Cell Nucleus

A
  • contains the cell’s genome and serves as control center.
  • Contains the nucleolus and chromosomes necessary for production of proteins within the cell
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8
Q

Humans have __ genes

A

~20,000

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9
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: Number of genes in a genome does not correlate with cellular or organismal complexity.

A

TRUE

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10
Q

Much genetic activity is dependent on…

A

Transcription factors that regulate when and to what degree a given gene is expressed.

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11
Q

The nucleolus…

A

…produces Ribosomes

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12
Q

Genes (biology)

A
  • Subunit of a chromosome
  • Induce production of mRNA upon activation
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13
Q

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A
  • A duplicate of the information contained in the gene that can encode proteins
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14
Q

Transcription (cell biology)

A

the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA

Occurs in the cell’s nucleus

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15
Q

mRNA translation

A
  • After mRNA leaves the nucleus and attaches to a ribosome, serving as a protein production template.
  • Amino acids are attached to tRNA, which enters the ribosome, which is then bound to mRNA
  • The ribosome moves along the mRNA, “reading” its sequence and producing a chain of amino acids.
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16
Q

Ribosomes

A
  • make proteins from amino acids via Translation (protein synthesis)
  • Possesses two subunits
    • Smaller subunit binds to the mRNA.
    • Larger subunit binds to tRNA and amino acids.
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17
Q

Free Ribosomes

A
  • can move about anywhere in the cytosol
  • excluded from the cell nucleus and other organelles.
  • Proteins that are formed from ___ are released into the cytosol and are used within the cell.
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18
Q

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

serves as the physical link between the mRNA and the amino acid sequence of proteins. It does this by carrying an amino acid to the protein synthesizing machinery of a cell called the ribosome.

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19
Q

Cytosol

A
  • the aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended.
  • all the metabolic reactions occur here.
  • the fluid contained in the cell cytoplasm
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20
Q

Membrane-bound ribosomes

A
  • Ribosomes that synthesize proteins needed in some organelles or for exocytosis (i.e. transmitters)
  • Bound into the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
  • The newly produced polypeptide chains are inserted directly into the ER by the ribosome and are then transported to their destinations through the secretory pathway.
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21
Q

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

A
  • Network of tubules, vesicles, and cisternae throughout cells
  • Consists of
    • Rough ER
    • Smooth ER
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22
Q

rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)

A
  • synthesizes proteins.
  • Is studded with ribosomes.
  • Works with the Golgi complex to target new proteins to their destination
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23
Q

smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

A
  • synthesizes lipids and steroids, metabolizes carbohydrates and steroids.
  • In spines, it regulates calcium levels and the attachment of receptors onto the membrane.
24
Q

The Golgi apparatus

A
  • Factory in which proteins received from the ER are further processed and sorted for transport to their final destinations, e.g. the cell membrane or secretion.
  • Has a cis face and a trans face
  • Molecules discharged in secretory vesicles
25
Q

Proteasome

A

large multienzyme organelles that degrade ubiquitinated proteins (via proteolysis)

26
Q

Proteolysis

A

mechanism by which cells regulate the concentration of proteins (e.g. endocytosis of vesicles and receptors) and degrade misfolded (unneeded) proteins.

27
Q

Endocytosis

A

the taking in of matter by a living cell by invagination of its membrane to form a vacuole.

28
Q

Invagination

A

The action or process of being turned inside out or folded back on itself to form a cavity or pouch.

29
Q

Proteases

A

enzymes that break peptide bonds.

30
Q

Ubiquintin

A
  • A small protein that tags proteins for degradation
  • Tagging a protein with this results in a poly__ chain that is bound by the proteasome
31
Q

Mitochondria (Primary Function)

A

Generate energy in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

32
Q

Mitochondria (Additional Functions)

A
  • Building, breakdown, and recycling of proteins
  • Regulation of Ca2+ -storage and release →
    • affects membrane potential and signal transduction
  • Apoptosis or programmed cell death
    • (essential for differentiation during development and infections)
  • Formation of parts of blood and hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone
  • Synthesis of steroids
33
Q

Cristae

A
  • numerous layers of folded, inner membrane
  • One of two membranes that bind the mitochondria
34
Q

Matrix (mitochondria)

A

A compartment lying inside the inner membrane

35
Q

outer compartment (mitochondria)

A

lying between the two mitochondrial membranes

36
Q

The inner membrane…

A

…contains proteins that carry out oxidative metabolism

37
Q

Oxidative metabolism

A

oxidative phosphorylation of ADP to ATP via the electron transport chain

38
Q

Redox

A

a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change.

39
Q

oxidation

A

the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state of a chemical or atoms within it.

40
Q

Reduction (Redox)

A

the gain of electrons or a decrease in the oxidation state of a chemical or atoms within it.

41
Q

Mitochondria have…

A

…their own DNA (mtDNA).

  • containing genes that produce proteins essential to oxidative metabolism.
42
Q

Mitochondria can protect neurons by…

A

supplying ATP and adsorbing excessive Ca++

43
Q

Mitochondria can kill neurons by…

A

releasing pro-apoptotic factors

44
Q

Mitochondrial function is tightly linked to…

A

their morphology

45
Q

Healthy mitochondria are…

A

thin and long

46
Q

dysfunctional mitochondria are

A

thick (swollen) and short (fragmented)

47
Q

Cytoskeleton

A
  • provides a structural framework for the cell
    • serving as a scaffold that determines
      • cell shape
      • the position of organelles, and
      • the general organization of the cytoplasm
    • responsible for cell movements.
      • This includes
        • the movements of entire cells, but also the transport of organelles, mitotic chromosomes, and vesicles.
48
Q

Three types of cytoskeletal fibers

A
  • Actin filaments (microfilament)
  • Intermediate filaments (“neurofilaments” in neurons)
  • Microtubules
49
Q

Actin filaments (microfilament)

A
  • Smallest (~5 nanometers diameter).
  • Two protein chains twined together like strands of pearls. Each “pearl” is an actin protein.
  • Responsible for cellular movements such as contraction, “pinching” during division, and cellular extensions
50
Q

Neurofilaments

A
  • Intermediate in size (8-10 nm diameter). Intermediate filaments are very stable.
  • (Example: Keratin in epithelial cells and structures such as hair and fingernails)
51
Q

Microtubules

A

Hollow tubes (~20 nanometers in diameter).

They are very unstable (halflife of ~10 min. in a nondividing cell, to as short as 20 sec. in a dividing cell), unless stabilized by guanosine triphosphate (GTP),

They are responsible for moving materials within the cell, and they enable cellular movement,.

52
Q

guanosine triphosphate (GTP)

A

inhibits depolymerization.

53
Q

“+” refers to the end of the microtubule that is

A

away from the nucleus

54
Q

“-” refers to the end of the microtubule that is

A

toward the nucleus

55
Q

Motor proteins

A

move organelles around the cell on microtubular tracks.

  • Two types
    • Kinesin
    • Dyneins
56
Q

Kinesin

A

Motor proteins move organelles toward the “+” end (toward periphery)

57
Q

Dyneins

A

motor protein that move organelles toward the “−” end (toward nucleus).

Cellular Neuroscience (10 decks)

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