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BDS1 BAMS: Molecules and Cells > Molecular Basis of Health, Disease and Therapeutics > Flashcards

Molecular Basis of Health, Disease and Therapeutics Flashcards

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Organic Chemistry 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is the function of the plasma membrane?

A

Forms a barrier between internal and external environments of the cell

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2
Q

Describe the structure of the plasma membrane

A
  • Phospholipid bilayer
  • Hydrophilic heads
  • Hydrophobic tails
  • Hydrophobic core forms the barrier and prevents molecules from passing freely from external environment into the cell
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3
Q

What is a ligand?

A

A chemical signal that binds to another molecule

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4
Q

What happens when a ligand binds to its specific receptor?

A
  • Receptor is activated
  • Conformational change occurs
  • Signal transduction
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5
Q

What are the 3 basic steps in a signalling pathway?

A
  1. Ligand-receptor binding
  2. Signal transduction
  3. Signal response
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6
Q

What type of protein are receptors usually?

A

Trans-membrane proteins

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7
Q

What are the 3 classes of membrane receptor?

A
  1. G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)
  2. Enzyme linked receptor
  3. Ion channel receptor
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8
Q

Which group of membrane receptor are the largest and most diverse group?

A

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)

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9
Q

What happens when a ligand binds to a GPCR?

A
  • G protein coupled receptor activated
  • Interacts with G proteins (GTP)
  • Activated G proteins activate cell membrane proteins
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10
Q

What is cAMP?

A

Cyclic AMP - a 2nd messenger

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11
Q

How do enzyme coupled receptors work?

A
  • Enzyme coupled receptors have intrinsic enzymatic activity
  • Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) = largest family
  • Tyrosine kinase adds phosphate to tyrosine
  • RTKs typically bind proteins at low concentrations
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12
Q

What do receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) play a role in?

A

Regulating growth, differentiation and survival

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13
Q

How do ion channels work?

A
  • Ion channels convert chemical messages into electrical messages
  • Ligand gated/voltage gated
  • Important in neuronal and muscular action potentials
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14
Q

What does lidocaine block?

A

Voltage-gated Na+ channels

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15
Q

What are the 2 functions of signal transduction?

A
  1. To amplify the signal

2. Deliver the signal to effector proteins

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16
Q

What does cell communication ultimately lead to (usually)?

A
  • Regulation of cellular responses

- e.g. many signalling pathways regulate the proteins translation by turning genes on or off

17
Q

What are transcription factors?

A

Proteins that bind to DNA to regulate gene transcription

18
Q

What is a common feature of ALL diseases?

A

All diseases have a molecular basis and may involve at least one breakdown in cellular communication

19
Q

What do drugs often target?

A

Disrupted cell communication networks for therapeutic benefit

20
Q

What are some of the ways in which cellular communication can fail?

A
  1. Loss of the signal
  2. Failure to respond to the signal
  3. Failure of signal to reach target cell
  4. Overexpression of signal
21
Q

What type of breakdown in cellular communication occurs in Type I diabetes?

A

Loss of signal - beta cells are destroyed, can’t to produce insulin (the signal)

22
Q

How can patients with Type I diabetes be treated?

A

With insulin injections

Not a cure, but can help mediate condition

23
Q

What type of breakdown in cellular communication occurs in Type II diabetes?

A
  • Failure to respond to the signal
  • Insulin is produced but cells that usually respond to insulin lose their sensitivity and can no longer respond to the signal
24
Q

What is the treatment recommended for type II diabetes?

A

Exercise and diet to regulate blood glucose levels

25
Q

Which drug can be prescribed to help manage symptoms of type II diabetes?

A

Metformin - inhibits tyrosine phosphatase. Tries to keep pathway switched on and activated
(The insulin receptor is a RTK)

26
Q

What type of receptor is the insulin receptor?

A

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK)

27
Q

What type of breakdown in cellular communication occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS)?

A
  • Failure of signal to reach target cell
  • MS is a demyelinating disease
  • Signal transduction can’t occur - signal does not reach target cell
28
Q

What type of breakdown in cellular communication occurs in periodontitis?

A
  • Overexpression of signal
  • Balance between bone formation and bone resorption is disrupted in periodontitis
  • Balance tipped towards more osteoclast activity i.e. more bone resorption
29
Q

What are the treatment options for multiple sclerosis?

A

Treatment of symptoms includes the use of steroids and immune-modifying drugs to prevent/limit cell destruction

30
Q

What do osteoblasts do?

A
  • Synthesise and secrete bone tissue (osteoid)

- Bone formation

31
Q

What do osteoclasts do?

A

Resorb bone

32
Q

What are the precursors for osteoclasts?

A

Osteoclasts are derived from monocyte/macrophage lineage

33
Q

What type of breakdown in cellular communication occurs in cancer?

A
  • Multiple breakdowns in cellular communication pathways

- Usually occurs if cell loses ability to respond to death signals; divides out of control

34
Q

What are the treatments for cancer?

A

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune therapy, vaccines (prevent cancer forming in fist place e.g. HPV vaccine)

35
Q

Describe the molecular basis of therapeutics

A
  • Drugs must interact chemically with a target to induce a therapeutic effect
  • Bind to receptors present in membrane to induce cellular response
  • Try to restore function in pathway
36
Q

What type of virus are HPV viruses?

A

DNA viruses

37
Q

Which virus is responsible for near all cervical cancers?

A

HPV - human papillomavirus

38
Q

What is a Western Blot?

A

A laboratory method used for protein identification using antibodies - can detect a specific protein in a solution that contains numerous other proteins

39
Q

What does polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis do?

A

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is used separate proteins by their size.

BDS1 BAMS: Molecules and Cells (13 decks)

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