MODULE 4: cellular machinery Flashcards
structural motifs
structural motifs are combinations of protein secondary structures
zinc-finger motif:
- both alpha and beta
- histidines and cytosines are cross braced by electrostatic interactions (e.g. zinc)
ring-finger motif:
- protein-protein interactions for substrate recognition
invaginations of the inner mitochondrial memrbrane are known as _________________
cristae
Ca2+/CaM switch
allosteric regulation (not chemically bound)
Ca2+ interactions changes calmodulin (CaM) tertiary structure to allow binding to a target protein
Ca2+/CaM binding opens up the catalytic site on this kinase to allow phosphorylation
increase in [Ca2+] acts as “on” switch
the GTPase switch
allosteric regulation (not chemically bound)
on = GTP off = hydrolysed to GDP
TO TURN OFF:
GAP activates GTPase activity, making GTPase hydrolyse GTP to GDP, inactivating switch
TO TURN ON:
GEF removes GDP and places GTP in place, activating switch
functions of cellular machines (5)
- transcription:
- transcription initiation complex ~ 30 subunits
- polymerases, linkers, adaptors, activators and DNA binding proteins - translation:
- machine to synthesize polypeptides from mRNA.
- yhe machine is made up of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins (ribonucleoprotein)
- protein synthesis requires ATP - protein folding:
- chaperonins –> barrel-shaped folding machine
- process driven by ATP hydrolysis - transport:
- kinesin: a microtubule motor required for cellular transport
- ATP binding and hydrolysis by the motor domains drives the “walking motion” - protein degradation:
- molecular machine for controlled proteolysis, 20S catalytic barrel core, 2 x 19S regulatory subunits
- ubiquitin (Ub) chains recognised by 19S regulatory subunit
- 19S-binding directs target protein into the core for proteolysis.
- polyubiquinitated proteins unfolded and degraded in 20S core in ATP-dependent manner
the nuclear membrane
surrounded by two membranes: nuclear lamina and nuclear envelope
- lamina supports nuclear envelope basally
- comprised of meshwork of intermediate filaments –> nuclear lamins
- this lattice interconnects with nuclear pores
inner nuclear membrane (INM) defines nucleus, whilst outer nuclear membrane (ONM) continuous with rough ER
INM and ONM are each phospholipid bilayers separated by perinuclear space
chromatin and regulation of chromatin structure
- DNA wraps around histone octomers
- DNA + histone octomer = nucleosome
- nucleosomes stack on top of each other
- chromatin structure is open/closed
- structure determines gene expression
structural regulation:
- post-translational modification of histones determines whether DNA is tightly packed or open
- N and C terminal tails come out of nucleosome
- these tails are sites for post-translational modification (acetylation etc)
- controls whether tails promote condensed or open DNA
Unacetylated: chromatin is highly condensed (transcriptionally inactive) – HETEROCHROMATIN
Acetylation – chromatin is less condensed, (transcriptionally active) – EUCHROMATIN
mechanism of transcription
- transcriptional regulators bind to DNA –> recruit chromatin remodelling structures –> chromatin opens
- a) also recruit a mediator (protein bridge) to recruit TFs to a promoter sequence
- b) mediator complex facilitates assembly of the pre-initiation complex that includes loading a RNA
polymerase (RNA pol II) on DNA - after initiation, transcription is paused by an elongation factor complex (NELF/DSIF).
- elongation pause is relieved by phosphorylation and remodelling of the elongation factors by a cdk/cyclin pair (P-TEFb)
nuclear pore complex (NPC)
sole gateway in/out of nucleus
spans both membranes
only small molecules can pass via passive diffusion
cytoplasmic NUPS form basket structure
NUPS form structure of pore (NPC) and anchor NPC to membrane
FG-NUPS = act as barrier to stop larger proteins passing through
FG-NUPS open up on signal to allow passage
** NPC has limit of ~40kDa
nuclear import mechanism
** diagram **
- importin and cargo move into nucleus via NPC
- in nucleus, ran-GTP binds importins with high affinity, causing the importins to release their cargo
- a) ran-GTP and the importin move back into cytoplasm (asymmetry arises).
- b) cytoplasmic GAP activity converts Ran-GTP to Ran-GDP lowering affinity —> release importins
- importins recycled to transport more cargo
- ran-GDP randomly diffuses back into nucleus to be converted into Ran-GTP by nuclear GEFs
(same ran-GTP/ran-GDP gradient drives both import and export)
nuclear export: ran-dependent mechanism
- ran-GTP binds exportins, promoting its association with cargo (opposite to import)
- hydrolysis of Ran-GTP to Ran- GTP in cytoplasm releases the exportin and cargo
- exportins and Ran-GDP move back through the NPC and mechanism reset by nuclear GEFs.
(same ran-GTP/ran-GDP gradient drives both import and export)
laminopathies
premature aging
protease cleaves precursor lamin into mature form
mature lamins control vital nuclear functions
mutations knocks out protease or mutate protease sites on lamins
results in defective nuclear architecture and premature ageing
shape of ER
rough = sheet-like structure or "cisternae" smooth = highly branched, "tubular"
without energy, phospholipid bilayers would be flat
reticulons have wedge-like structure with certain angle
- can bend tightly to make two layer flat disc
- can bend to make circle
ER branches: membrane fusion
smooth ER contains many 3-way branches
3 way branching comes about from fusion of an extending tube with side of another tubule
fusion facilitated by small G protein - atlastin
atlastin is a reticulon that contains GTP binding domain
two atlastin proteins on opposing membranes will bind and dimerise
GTP hydrolysis pulls membranes together for fusion
cotranslational translocation
secretory proteins: live in vesicles then secreted via exocytosis
1) targeting signal on N-terminus is detected
2) polypeptides direct protein to ER membrane
4) SRP (signal recognising particle) binds to both signal sequence of peptide and large ribosomal subunit
5) SRP facilitates docking onto ER membrane and stops signal sequence
5) receptor on membrane recognises SRP and polypeptide docks to translocon (pore)
- this is facilitated by GTP
- hydrolyses of GTP = SRP released from receptor
6) polypeptide enters ER and signal peptidase cleaves signal sequence
7) polypeptide folds within lumen of rough ER