IMMS Flashcards
What does the nucleus contain?
DNA (Chromatin)
Euchromatin- loose coils so more easily expressed
Heterochromatin- tight coils around histone proteins so is repressed
Nucleolus (main function is rRNA synthesis - production of ribosomes)
What is the sER and rER for?
sER- membrane lipid synthesis, protein storage and phase 1 detoxification
rER- has ribosomes for protein synthesis
What are the parts of the golgi apparatus?
- Cis face - receives protein/lipid vesicles
- medial face - adds sugars modify these
- Trans –> packages the modified molecules into vesicles to be exocystosed
Perinuclear hoff - plasma cells golgi (light staining area adjacent to the nucleus)
Lysosomes
Degrades protein and involved in cell autolysis via a low pH of 5 maintained by H+/K+ ATPase
Peroxisome function
Beta oxidation of fatty acids
It produces reactive oxygen species H2O2
Removes hydrogen from lipid/alcohol and xenobiotics
What are the diameters of the different filaments in the cytoskeleton? Briefly mention function
Microtubules - 25nm
- Major protein is tubulin
Function: mitosis, also a component of cilia
Intermediate filaments - 10nm
Function: cell integrity and cell to cell contact
no motor protein
Microfilaments - 5-7 nm
- Major motor protein is myosin
- For cell shape and motility
What is lipofuscin?
Wear and tear pigment which appears orangey brown. Indicates that a cell is old
What are G coupled receptors?
They are receptors on the surface of the plasma membrane which mediate the majority of cellular responses to external stimuli. (cascade of reactions)
What are the 4 cell to cell junctions?
Tight junctions
- Do not allow passage between cells
- Cells are sealed
Adherens
– Binds adjacent actin bundles of cells
Desmosomes
- Adjacent intermediate filaments are joined
Gap junctions
- allow adjacent cell passage of ions
- Key in myocardium contraction as a syncytium.
What are the 3 modes of communication for homeostasis?
Autocrine - a cell signal released from a cell binds to receptors on the same cell
Paracrine - secretion into the ECF and cell signals act on neighbouring (nearby) cell – acetylcholine at neuromuscular junction
Endocrine - secretion into the blood and cell signals act on cells further away. – ADH from the posterior pituitary
What are the difference between the two main types of hormones? Examples of both types
Peptide hormones are made from several amino acids. Steroid hormones made from lipid cholesterol
Peptide hormones- water soluble (move directly in the blood) - ADH, Insulin
Steroid hormones- lipid soluble
(move in transport proteins in the blood) - Oestrogen, testosterone
Peptide hormones - bind to receptors on the cell membrane
Steroid hormones- diffuse through the cell membrane to produce an intracellular response
Thus
Peptide hormones- are fast acting
Steroid hormones- are slow acting
Peptide hormones are pre made and stored
Steroid hormones are not pre made
In a 70kg male, what is the total amount of water in the body?
- water in ICF, ECF, IF, Plasma
Total - 42L
ICF - 28L (fluid inside cells- K+ main intracellular ion)
ECF- 14L (Na+ main extracellular ion)
Interstitial fluid - 11L (fluid outside of the blood vessels)
Plasma - 3L (fluid within the blood)
What is sensible and insensible water loss?
Sensible loss- measurable
–> Pee, vomit
insensible loss- immeasurable
–> Sweat, surgery
Main regulator of water loss is the kidney
What is the RAAS system?
- Helps to maintain blood pressure
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Activated when there is either a decrease in blood pressure (detected by juxtaglomerular cells in the afferent arteriole) or when there is a decreased concentration of NaCl (detected by macula densa cells of the distal convoluted tubule)
The distal convoluted tubule is actually close to the afferent arteriole
The two things mentioned above causes the release of renin from the juxtaglomerular cells –> renin cleaves angiotensinogen released by the liver to angiotensin 1 –> angiotensin 1 is converted by antiotensin converting enzyme in the lungs to angiotensin 2
Angiotensin 2 has multiple effects
- Activates sympathetic nervous system - vasoconstriction
- It stimulates the secretion of ADH from the posterior pituitary which acts on cells of the collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubule to upregulate aquaporins to increase the permeability of the collecting duct to water which increases blood pressure
- It stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex–> increases Na+ reabsorption in the ascending limb of the loop of henle, H2O follows the movement of Na+ causing increased ECF and thus blood pressure.
- Stimulates thirst centre
(Take note, excess water can cause oedema)
What is the antagonist of RAAS system.
Atrial natriuretic peptide released from the atrium when blood pressure is high.
It decreases blood pressure by inhibiting actions of angiotensin 2.
Osmolarity definition
The concentration of substance per litre of solution
Osmolality definition
The concentration of substance per kilogram of solution
What is osmotic pressure?
The pressure that has to be applied on a pure solvent to prevent it from passing into a given solution by osmosis.
What is oncotic pressure?
The osmotic pressure induced by albumin on the capillary walls to keep the fluid in.
Hydrostatic pressure definition
The pressure that a fluid in a confined space is exerting
What are the causes and symptoms of hypernatriemia?
- Excess sodium
Causes: dehydration, increased aldosterone, failing kidney
Symptoms: oedema, increased blood pressure
(hyponatriemia caused by excess water and decreased aldosterone)
Causes and symptoms of hyperkalemia
Causes: kidney failure, decresaed aldosterone, alkalosis
Symptoms: nerve and muscle issues due to regulating resting membrane potential
Hypokalemia (diahrrhoea, acidosis, increased aldosterone)
Symptoms: heart problems
Causes and symptoms of hypercalcemia
Causes increased: Increased PTH, increased vitamin D
Symptoms:bone weakness, calcification
Hypocalcemia - decreased PTH and vitamin D, symptoms- muscle spasm
Explain structure of carbohydrates
How much energy is released per gram of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides may be joined via glycosidic bonds to form disaccharides, oligosaccharides (3-12) and polysaccharides.
Mainly used for energy source in the form of glucose or energy storage (cellulose, glycogen and starch)
4kcal/g
Explain the structure of lipids
What are they mainly used for?
How much energy is released per gram of lipid?
Exist as triglycerides (3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol)
- Hydrophobic. Ester bonds
They are amphipathic - (tail is hydrophobic, head is hydrophilic)
Mainly used for long term energy storage. Also used for protection and waterproofing
9kcal/g
What are nucleotides and nucleosides comprised of? What kind of bonds? Which are purines and pyramidines?
Nucleotide- pentose sugar, phosphate and a base
Purine (A+G) - 2 bonds
Pyramidine (C, T, U) - 3 bonds
Phosphodiester bonds
Nucleoside- pentose sugar and a base
How many naturally occurring amino acids are there? How many are essential?
20
8/9
Structure of amino acids
- peptide bond
O=C-N-H
The variable group (R group) determines the polarity of the amino acid.
What are the structures of proteins?
Primary - The linear sequence of amino acids held together by covalent bonds
Secondary - Formation of either an alpha helix (spiral arrangement) or beta pleated sheets (directionally oriented)
Super secondary - combination of both secondary structures
Tertiary - 3D conformation of a protein. ionic bonds, disulphide bridges
Quaternary - 3D structure of protein composed of multiple subunits. Consists of more than 1 polypeptide chain linked together. (haemoglobin)
What level of proteins are enzymes?
Enzymes are tertiary and quaternary structures(functional globular) - binds via active sites to the substrates
Co-enzymes bind to enzymes to aid their function
What is the structure of haemoglobin?
What is the mutation to cause sickle cell disease? What is the effect on red blood cells?
2 alpha and 2 beta chains
Quaternary structure
Mutation (in DNA NOT RNA) from GAG (glutamic acid) –> GTG (Valine)
This causes the red blood cells to take on a more sickle shape rather than round, thus decreasing the surface area for absorption.
It is also less flexible and more prone to damage.
It protects against malaria
Describe DNA replication
A semi-conservative process because Every double helix consists of 1 new strand and 1 old strand
Takes place in the nucleus
1) Topoisomerase unwinds the supercoil (also relieves strain)
2) DNA helicase separates the double stranded DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between base pairs and creates a replication fork
3) Single stranded binding proteins coat the DNA strands after separation to prevent the strands from re-annealing
4) DNA primase synthesises short RNA primers which serve as an initiation point for DNA polymerase
5) DNA polymerase attaches to the 3’ end of the primer (5’ end of the DNA) and synthesises a new strand of DNA in the 5’ to 3’ direction
6) On the leading strand it continuously synthesises the new DNA strand towards the replication fork. On the lagging strand, it builds away from the replication fork and synthesises the DNA strand in pieces called okazaki fragments
7) DNA ligase joins the okazaki fragments together to form a continuous strand by covalently joining the sugar phosphate backbones together.
Describe DNA transcription
Takes place in the nucleus
1) Transcription factors such as the TATA binding protein control the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter region.
2) RNA polymerase unwinds and separates the DNA strand into the antisense strand and sense strand
3) As RNA polymerase moves along the template strand from the promotor region, free mRNA nucleotides line up next to their complementary bases and an antiparallel strand is formed in the 5’ to 3’ direction
4) This occurs until the termination point of the gene is reached. RNA polymerase is released and the double strand DNA reforms into its helix shape.
5) Post transcription events occur before the mRNA strand leaves the nucleus via the nuclear pore to attach to the 80s ribosome
Name the post transcription events
Capping- adding of a methyl group to the 5’ end of the transcribed RNA to prevent it from degradation
Polyadenylation- adding of a Poly A tail to the 3’ end of the transcript to improve stability and facilitate it export from the nucleus
Splicing- non coding sequences called introns are removed and coding regions called exons are joined together to form a continuous sequence (can be in any order that exons are joined)
Describe DNA translation
1) The small ribosomal subunit binds to the 5’ end of the mRNA and moves along until it reaches the start codon AUG. The complementary tRNA then attaches to the codon via its anticodon.
2) The large ribosomal subunit aligns itself to the tRNA molecules at the P site, forming a complex with the small subunit.
3) A second tRNA molecule pairs with the next codon in the A site. The amino acid in the P site covalently attaches to the amino acid in the A site via a peptide bone.
4) The ribosome complex moves along the mRNA strand in a 5’ to 3’ direction. The amino acid in the P site moves to the E site and is released. The one in the A site moves to the P site.
5) This happens till a stop codon is reached (UGA, UAG, UAA). Here, a release factor is recruited which signals for translation to stop.
The polypeptide chan in released and sent to the golgi apparatus for modification.
Where is DNA found?
Nucleus and mitochondria (only a small amount of maternal DNA)
Describe the interphase
G1- Rapid cell growth, synthesis of new organelles (DNA damage is checked before DNA replication (p53, p21)
S- Synthesis- DNA replication, protein synthesis, centrosome replication
G2- Mitochondria double, chromosomes condense (DNA damage is checked for pre mitosis by glycosylase enzymes)
G0- fully differentiated cells that don’t replicate further