Lecture 8 Flashcards
Where does fertilization occur in mammals?
Fertilization occurs in the AMPULLA
What is completed after sperm entry?
When does the first cleavage happen?
MEIOSIS is completed after sperm entry.
The first cleavage happens a day later.
What is cell cleavage?
Cell cleavage is the period of rapid cell division after fertilization.
In cell cleavage, the egg divides into many smaller cells, but does cell volume or size change?
No, in cell cleavage the egg divides into many smaller cells but cell volume and size DOES NOT change.
What makes cell cleavage in mammals unique?
Mammalia cell cleavage has a unique nature:
- relatively slow (12-24h apart)
- blastomeres organized in unique orientation
- pattern of cleavage within a species doesn’t change (genetic control?)
In most species, what controls cell cleavage?
In most species, MATERNAL FACTORS control cell cleavage
Maternal factors control the following:
6 things
Ribosomes (protein translation)
DNA polymerases (DNA replication)
Lipids (formation of new cell membranes)
RNA (gene expression)
Structural proteins, enzymes, etc
ATP, nucleotides, amino acids, and other building blocks/metabolites
Once maternal factors are exhausted, what takes over?
What is this process called?
As maternal factors are exhausted, ZYGOTIC GENOME starts to take over
This is called MID-BLASTULA TRANSITION (MBT)
In mammals, when is the zygotic genome activated?
during the first cell cycle
True or False: In mammals, cleavage divisions are synchronous.
False
Not synchronous
Following MBT, what occurs?
Maternal to zygotic transition (MZT)
What happens during MZT?
MZT takes place as
the cell cycles lengthen
gap phases are introduced
and the time spent in S phase is increased
What is the subsequent transition that occurs alongside MBT and MZT?
Early gastrula transition (EGT)
What is EGT?
Early gastrula transition (EGT)
When the embryo acquires the ability to perform apoptosis
Describe the somatic cell cycle in general.
Somatic cell cycle:
G1, S, G2 and M phase
G1 - growth and prep for DNA synthesis
S - DNA replication
G2 - growth and prep for mitosis
M - mitosis and cytokinesis
Describe the cell cycle during early cell cleavage. How is it modified?
What is this coordinated by?
In early cell cleavage, the cell cycle is modified so it only have S and M phases
This is coordinated by maternal factors in the egg
MPF = mitosis promoting factor (two subunits: cyclin B and cdc2/cdk1)
What are cell division patterns also called?
cleavage patterns
Cleavage patterns variations are dependent on:
amount and distribution of yolk protein within cytoplasm
distribution of cytoplasmic determinants
type of cell-cell interactions
Many eggs have a polarity based on the presence of _____
yolk
What is the vegetal pole?
yolk-rich part of the zygote that contains cells that divide slowly
What is the animal pole?
the yolk-poor part of the zygote that contains cells that divide rapidly