focus cards Flashcards
what are the differences between SEM,DIC, and TEM
SEM: electrons hit off the surface of the fixed, dehydrated, metal-coated cell, they show 3D structures in high quality
DIC: uses polarized light and optical interference to enhance contrast from transparent slides of live/unstained cells to produce 3D-like images
TEM: passes electrons through a thin sample to create images based on electron density, high-res, but 2D images of internal structures
what is the structure of AF?
is a monomer, helix-like format, ATP used to bind together monomers into polymers, has a plus (growth) and minus (decay) end
what is treadmilling in actin filaments?
when individual filaments are getting added and removed from the positive and negative ends of actin equally, giving the illusion of movement in the direction of the plus end
what is the relationship between rate of hydrolisis and critical concentration (Cc)
above critical concentration, addition of subunits is faster than hydrolysis, whereas below, hydrolysis overpowers. at the minus end, subunits are still being added but hydrolysis catches up and allows for decay
what is myosin ii? describe its structure.
myosin ii is a motor protein for cell movement and muscle contraction
coiled coil of 2 alpha helices form a heavy chain, which in turn, form tails and heads + two smaller chains attached to each heavy chain, they stabilize and amplify conformational changes in myosin during movement, stabilie the neck and regulate activity
- head: is a catalytic region responsible for ATP hydrolysis and force generation for movement
- tail: responsible for dimerization (pairing with other myosin) and interaction with cargo/structural elements
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what is the structure of a sarcomere?
- actin (thin) filaments = g-actin (globular) + f-actin (helical), attach to z-disc and are cross-linked by proteins, minus ends aligned towards m-line, plus ends towards zdiscs with cap z on them
- myosin (thick) filaments = binds to actin and generates force using ATP, centered in the middle of the sarcomere, anchored by M-line
- capZ = anchors actin at z-discs, stabilizes them, prevents loss/addition (alpha and beta subunits create it)
- z-disc (zline) = boundary of each individual sarcomere, provides attachment points for actin and connects sarcomeres end-to-end, made of alpha actinin + capZ
- m-line= central point of sarcomere when myosin is anchored, helps maintain myosin arrangement
what are the stages of the cell cycle (in order with subphases)
interphase (g1>s>g2), m phase (prophase>metaphase>anaphase>telophase), cytokinesis
explain what takes place in interphase and all its substeps
g1: cell grows, synthesizes proteins, makes organelles, prepares for DNA replication
s: DNA replicated, doubles material, chromosomes form sister chromatids connected at centromeres
g2: cell grows and preps for mitosis, proteins and organelles needed for division are produced
explain what takes place in the m phase and all its substeps
- prophase: chromosomes condense, nuclear envelope breaks down, mitotic spindle forms
- metaphase: chromosomes align at the metaphase plate, spindle fibers attach to sister chromatids’ centromeres
- anaphase: sister chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibers to opposite poles of cells
- telophase: chromsomes decondense at poles, nuclear envelope reforms around the sets of chromosomes
explain what occurs during cytokinesis
cytoplasm divides in 2, forms genetically identical daughter cells, cleavage/cell plate forms
what are the checkpoints in the cell cycle?
between G2 and M: DNA replication checkpoint (is all dna replicated and is the environment favourable)
between metaphase and anaphase in M: spindle attachment checkpoint (are all chromosomes attached to the spindle)
end of G1 to beginning of S: DNA damage checkpoint (is environment favourable)w
what does the dna damage checkpoint do
p53 halts the cycle, initiates DNA repair and apoptosis. assesses integrity of dna, if damaged and subsequently repairs said damaged dna, if damage is irreparable, apoptosis occurs (programmed cell death)
what happens during the replication checkpoint
ATM/ATR kinases halt the cell if issues are detected. cell verifies that all dna has been successfully replicated, replication errors or incomplete replication stalls progression to mitosis so repairs can be made before entering
what happens during spindle attachment checkpoint
ensures proper chromosomal alignment and attachment of fibers
- mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) monitors whether all chromosomes are correctly attached to spindle fibers via kinetochore, MCC inhibits anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) thus delaying anaphase until all chromosomes are properly aligned at the metaphase plate to prevent unequal chromosomal segregation (aneuploidy)
what is the process of chromatid separation? what does this entail?
- preparation during prophase: chromsomes (made of two sister chromatids connected at a centromere) condense, become visible. mitotic spindle forms, comprimise MTs that extend from entrosome towards chromosomes
- alignment at metaphase: chromosomes align at metaphase plate with centromeres connected to spindle fibers, alignment ensured at checkpoint
- activation at anaphase: once checkpoint statisfied, separase cleaves cohesin and allows them to separate
- chromatid movement: spindle fibers shorten, pulling each one towards opposite poles of cells, these become individual chromosomes
- telophase: chromsomes decondense at poles, nucelear envelope reforms, prepares for cytokinesis