Med 1002 (II) Flashcards
What is a distinguishing feature of a chromosome always?
- Has telomeres
- Has a centromere
What is the role of microtubules in chromosome replication?
Microtubules pull apart the sister chromatids so each cell gets a chromosome
What is the role of kinetochores in chromosome replication?
Two of them are attached on either side of the centromere. Micro tubules attach to the kinetochore
Describe the polarity of microtubules in regards to chromosome replication
Microtubules attach at two ‘poles’ with the positive end being at the kinetochores and the negative being at the centrosome
Describe the function, structure of a centrosome and any other names it may have
- Also known as spindle poles and microtubule organising centre
- One per cell but when cell is going to split, we have two of them so chromosome can get pulled apart
- It’s made of two centrioles which are right angles to each other
What are the two kinds of microtubules?
- Kinetochore microtubules
- Attach microtubules to centrosomes
- Astral microtubules
- Go from centrosome to cell membrane
Explain what disjunction is in regards to chromosome replication
Very important to get chromosomes properly
separated into 2 new cells = segregation.
Incorrect segregation = nondisjunction
List all the phases in the cycle
Interphase (growth and normal phase):
- G0
- G1
- S
- G2
Mitotic (division phase):
- Prophase
- Prometaphase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
Detail what occurs in G0
- when a cell stops replicating.
- Not all cells undergo G0 and some cells can come out of G0 back to G1
Detail what occurs in G1
- Cell grows
- Normal metabolic reactions occur
- Cell prepares for S phase
Detail what occurs in S phase
- DNA replication occurs (amount of DNA doubles)
- Centrosome replication is completed (we now have 2)
- Nucleus becomes enlarged
Detail what occurs in G2
- Further growth of cell & protein synthesis
- Centrosome maturation
- Cell begins to divide
Detail what occurs in prophase
Chromosomes condense. Each chromosome has two chromatids and mitotic spindle (tubules) form
Detail what occurs in prometaphase
- Nuclear membrane disintegrates
- Spindle microtubules attach to chromatids
Detail what occurs in metaphase
Chromosomes line up on the metaphase plate (looks like they’re in the centre of the cell)
Detail what occurs in anaphase
Sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles or sides of the cell
Detail what occurs in telophase
- Chromosomes arrive at spindle poles
- Nuclear membrane reforms
- Chromosomes relax
How does the number of chromosomes in a cell change as mitosis occurs?
Until anaphase, there are always 4 chromosomes per cell
How does the number of DNA molecules in a cell change as mitosis occurs?
Always 8 DNA molecules except in S phase (where it goes from to 8), G1 and telophase
What are the differences between meiosis and mitosis?
Meiosis occurs in sex cells and mitosis in somatic cells.
In meiosis, the daughter cells have half the amount of chromosomes as the parent cell
What are the differences between meiosis and mitosis?
Meiosis occurs in sex cells and mitosis in somatic cells.
In meiosis, the daughter cells have half the amount of chromosomes as the parent cell
Detail what occurs during prophase I
Chromosomes begin to condense, spindle forms, homologous pairs of chromosomes pair up and in late prophase, crossing over occurs between chromosomes
Detail what occurs during metaphase I
Homologous pairs of chromosomes line up on metaphase plate
What occurs during anaphase I
Homologous chromosomes separate and move towards separate poles
What occurs during telophase I
Chromosomes arrive at spindle poles and cytoplasm divides
Detail what occurs in mitosis II
(prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase II only)
- Chromosomes recondense
- Individual chromosomes line up on metaphase plate
- Chromosomes separate and then cytokinesis happens
What is crossing over (cell cycle)?
Exchange of genetic material between chromosomes in meiosis I.
Crossing over occurs at chiasma (sites of crossing over)
What is the role of cohesin and shugoshin?
In mitosis, cohesin keeps sister chromatids together. Breaks down during anaphase.
In meiosis, cohesin holds chromosome arms together at chiasmata in meiosis 1. Shugoshin protects cohesin at sister chromatids (at centromere) and shugoshin and cohesin degrade during anaphase 2 (meiosis II)
What regions of chromosomes replicate first and which regions replicate later?
Less condensed regions (euchromatin) replicate before more condensed regions (heterochromatin)
What governs chromosome replication?
- Control of initiation. This is related to the sequences of DNA so which origins are used and when they are used is dependent on the structure and activity of chromatin.
What is a replication bubble?
Replication forks occur in pairs, forming a bubble
What is an origin on a chromosome?
A precise location on a chromosome where assembly of replication protein occurs. They are A-T rich. There are multiple origins on a chromosome
What is ORC?
Origin replication complex, which binds to origin and separates DNA strands by recruiting replication proteins
When is DNA replicated in the cell cycle?
S phase
What is chromosome licensing?
At different origins, DNA and the origin is licensed ONLY once during a cell cycle to initiate replication and by initiating only once, ensures replication of DNA only occurs in S phase
What occurs at the telomeres at the end of chromosome replication?
The telomeres of newly synthesised DNA would shorten because primer at the ends leaves gaps which ligase cannot join together.
How is telomere shortening prevented?
A specialised enzyme, telomerase, with a catalytic subunit = Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) attaches to the parent strand and then extends it which allows primer to be laid. This allows more replication to occur because you need to attach nucleotides at 3’ OH group. The overhang is then chopped of by FEN 1(not sure if it’s FEN1)
What is the role of CAF-1?
Brings histone proteins to replication forks to assemble nucleosomes and then chromosomes
Describe the general properties and structure of RNA
Comprised of sugar, phosphate group and nitrogenous base. Sugar is ribose sugar compared to DNA’s deoxy ribose sugars. Instead of thymine, we have uracil complementary to adenine. RNA is also be single stranded
What is the first degree of structure of RNA comprised of?
The sequence of ribonucleotides
What is the second degree of RNA comprised of?
Complex structures arising from intra-strand base pairing via H-bonds
Explain the effects of RNA’s secondary structure
Due to complex secondary structure, RNA can allow for various functions.
It can base pair conventionally (A-U) but also unusually such as U-U (however they’re weaker)
As RNA can fold, it can have enzyme activity or structural roles
Compare and contrast U=G and U=A hydrogen bonding in RNA
U=G because they’re not complementary bases don’t have 3 hydrogen bonds so it’s weaker than U=A because base stacking doesn’t properly occur either
Where is all RNA synthesised/transcribed
Within the nucleus
Where is rRNA synthesized and explain how it is synthesized?
Synthesized in nucleolus from two genes.
It has two parts:
- Three RNA different sized molecules, 18S, 5.8S, 28S
- 5S unit which is from a different gene from previous subunit
These two subunits combine to form proper RNA
What are the two classes of RNA?
Coding and non-coding
List the 3 kinds of RNA essential to protein synthesis
mRNA (messenger RNA)
rRNA (ribosomal RNA)
tRNA (transfer RNA)
Explain the role of mRNA
A messenger RNA that carries the instructions of amino acid sequences. mRNA goes to the ribosome where protein synthesis occurs
Explain the role of tRNA
They form the structural and functional part of the ribosome, so they are the site of protein synthesis. They translate information from mRNA into AA sequence of protein.
- They also transfer amino acids to the ribosome and bind mRNA by matching their anticodon to mRNA codon
Explain what is ribozyme
Ribosomes essentially catalyse peptide bond formation so they need a catalytic component which is ribozyme
What is the role of the anticodon?
Binds mRNA via complementary base pairings (RNA is anti parallel)
What is the purpose of having both DNA and RNA?
DNA is more stable and less reactive than RNA as the deoxyribose is more stable. Also errors in DNA are less due to proofreading by polymerases.