MCBG Flashcards
(157 cards)
What is the function of cytoplasmic extensions?
Communication between cells.
Movement.
Increase surface area for more phagocytosis to occur.
What are the functions of lysosomes?
To bind to a vesicle and break the contents down, by releasing hydrolytic enzymes.
What is the denser portion of the Golgi, and what is its function?
The cis end.
It receives vesicles from the RER.
What are the two key properties of proteins?
Their size - number of amino acids joined together.
Their isoelectric point - the point at which the protein has no overall nett charge.
Outline some characteristics of alpha-helices.
They are tightly coiled chains with side chains.
It is a right-handed helix.
Hydrogen bonds stabilise between the amine and carbonyl groups.
Outline some characteristics of beta-pleated sheets.
They have extended confirmations.
They are composed of adjacent beta-pleated strands.
They are arranged in an anti-parallel direction for stability.
Hydrogen bonds stabilise them, formed between the amine group and the carbonyl group.
How does protein folding occur?
Through localised folding with the stable conformations maintained.
It is driven to find the most stable conformation.
What are amyloid fibres?
They are misfolded, insoluble beta-pleated sheet aggregations.
They are stabilised by hydrophobic interactions between amino acid residues.
They can cause disease.
What are clefts and crevices of enzymes?
Clefts are spaces between subunits.
Crevices are formed by specific folding of the protein to exclude water.
What can Km be used to determine?
Whether more substrate or enzyme is required to increase the rate of reaction.
What is V0?
The initial rate of reaction.
What is 1 unit?
The amount of enzyme that produces 1micromole of product per min under standard conditions.
What are the different types of bonds involved in DNA?
Phosphodiester bonds between phosphate group and sugar backbone - they are covalent bonds.
Hydrogens bonds are between bases.
Van-der waal forces also stabilise the DNA helix.
What is Crick’s central dogma?
Genes, encoded for by DNA are transcribed into mRNA. The mRNA is then translated into an amino acid sequence, which forms a protein.
What are the specific regions needed for sex determination?
Pseudoautosomal regions and genes, which are specific to X and Y chromosomes.
Which type of chromatin can be transcribed?
Eurchromatin, as the DNA is loosely compacted in the nucleosome form.
What are the types of purine and pyrimidine bases?
Purine = adenosine and guanine.
Pyrimidine = thymine, cytosine and uracil (replaces thymine in RNA).
What are the groups attached to the 5’ and 3’ ends?
5’ = phosphate group, which is negatively charged.
3’ = hydroxyl group.
What C number is the phosphate group attached to, and what C number binds to the adjacent nucleotide?
Phosphate = C5.
C3 binds to the adjacent nucleotide’s phosphate group.
Are G-C or A-T/U base pairs stronger?
G-C are stronger as they contain 3 hydrogen bonds, whereas A-T/U only contain 2 hydrogen bonds.
What is Down’s syndrome caused by, the abnormality and some clinical features?
It is caused by non-disjunction of chromosome 21 during meiosis.
It leads to trisomy of chromosome 21.
Patients often have delayed growth, mild intellectual disabilities, and characteristic facial features.
What are telomeres and what are their function?
They are repeat sequences at the end of the chromosome.
They protect the chromosome whilst replicating.
What happens to the length of telomeres as the cell proliferates?
They shorten.
What are the 7 groups of chromosomes based off, and what are X and Y chromosomes placed in?
They are based on size and position of the centromere.
X is in group C and Y is in group G.