Mod5 - Mechanics of Cell Division Flashcards
What is the class of protein that control the cell cycle (and one specific example)
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (such as MCdk) - they phosphorylate proteins to control their function
State 2 key things that must happen before mitosis can occur
- DNA must be replicated, and held together by cohesin rings
- Centrosome must duplicate in S-phase (triggered by the same Cdk that controls DNA replication) so that it can nucleate more MTs
Name the three different groups of MTs that form the mitotic spindle
Astral microtubules, Kinetochore microtubules, Interpolar microtubules
What is the function of kinetochore MTs?
They find and attach to kinetochores, and undergo co-ordinated assembly and disassembly during mitosis
What is the function of interpolar MTs?
They grow from one pole and must meet those from the other pole to form anti-parallel interactions
Give a feature of astral MTs and the stage of mitosis they play a crucial role in
They are highly dynamic and play a crucial role in anaphase
How and why do microtubule dynamics increase during mitosis?
Some MAPs are inactivated when phosphorylated by MCdk, and proteins that trigger MT catastrophe are activated in mitosis.
This increases the chance of MTs contacting chromosomes, or MTs from the other centrosome
Name one protein (besides MT Catastrophe Proteins) that is activated by MCdk in mitosis, and what this does
Condensin (causes chromosomes to condense in prophase)
Name one protein (besides MAPs) that is inactivated by MCdk in mitosis, and what this does
Nuclear lamins (causes nuclear envelope to disassemble)
What is the difference between cohesins and condensins?
Cohesins are added when DNA is replicated in S phase, and hold sister chromatids together until anaphase.
Condensins compact the DNA during prophase after being activated by MCdk phosphorylation
What two main processes mark prophase?
Condensation of chromatin, and Formation of the Bipolar Mitotic Spindle via Antiparallel Interactions
Cross-linking by WHICH PROTEIN stabilises interpolar microtubules (and makes them more stable than astral MTs)?
Eg5
What are the roles of Eg5?
Cross-links antiparallel MTs and starts pushing the centromeres apart to form the spindle poles (it is also needed for anaphase)
What are the main things that happen in pro-metaphase?
Nuclear envelope disassembles (and also nuclear lamina in animals); Golgi fragments (causing secretion and endocytosis to stop) so that both daughter cells inherit equal amounts of Golgi
What causes the disassembly of the nuclear lamina in prometaphase?
MCdk phosphorylates nuclear lamins and pore proteins