Regulation of Cell Motility Flashcards

1
Q

What are the changes that occur in the cells that occur during tumour progression?

A

Genetic alterations lead to:

  • hyperproliferation,
  • disassembly of cell-cell contacts,
  • loss of polarity,
  • increased motility
  • cleavage of ECM proteins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the different types of tumour cell migration?

A
  • Single cell migration (ameboid)
  • Mesenchymal single cells
  • Mesenchymal chains
  • Clusters/cohorts
  • Multicellular strands/sheets
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What physiological phenomena does tumour migration mimic?

A

Morphogenesis e.g. angiogenesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What did a comparison of the expression profile of invasive cells vs primary tumours show to be upregulated in invasive cells?

A

Cytoskeleton regulation Motility machinery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What makes normal migrating cells stop moving?

A

Contact inhibition of locomotion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How are tumour cells different with regards to stopping moving?

A

They lose contact inhibition of locomotion so they can multilayer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is another term for ECM proteins?

A

Substratum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are filopodia?

A

Finger-like protrusions that are rich in actin filaments They sense the local environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are lamellipodia?

A

Sheet-like protrusions that are rich in actin filaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the four main stages of cell movement?

A

Extension Adhesion Translocation De-adhesion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the attachments between the cell and the surface that it is moving along called?

A

Focal adhesions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the monomers of actin filaments?

A

G-actin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the polarity of acting filaments.

A

They have a plus end and a minus end The monomers preferentially get added on at the plus end

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What protein complex is important in initiating polymerisation?

A

Arp2/3 This forms a trimer with actin and is good at initiating polymerisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the limiting step in actin dynamics?

A

Formation of Arp2/3-actin trimers to initiate polymerisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

State two proteins that bind to free G-actin and describe how they affect elongation.

A
  1. Promote elongation
    * profilin (these deliver the G-actin to the growing filament)
  2. Sequesters G-actin
  • beta4 thymosin
  • ADF/cofilin
17
Q

Name some + end capping proteins.

A

CapZ Gelsolin Fragmin/severin

18
Q

Name some – end capping proteins.

A

Tropomodulin Arp2/3

19
Q

Name some severing proteins.

A
  • Gelsolin
  • ADF/Cofilin
  • Framin/severin
20
Q

What are the features of the actin filaments in severed populations?

A

Actin filaments can grow and shrink more rapidly

21
Q

What can happen to single filaments of actin to improve their structural integrity?

A

They can be bundled or cross-linked

22
Q

Name some proteins involved in strengthening actin strands.

A
  • Alpha-actinin
  • Fimbrin
  • Filamin
  • Spectrin
  • Villin
  • Vinculin
23
Q

Which protein allows branching of the actin filaments?

A

Arp2/3

24
Q

At what angle do they branch?

A

70 degree

25
Q

Summarise the actions of Arp2/3.

A

They initiate nucleation They cap filaments They cause branching

26
Q

Describe what causes the gel-sol transition.

A

The actin filaments can be severed to make the cell more fluid

27
Q

Describe the actin processes that take place during the protusion of lamellipodia.

A

There is polymerisation, disassembly, branching and capping There is net filament assembly at the leading edge

28
Q

Describe the actin processes that take place during the formation of filopodia.

A

Actin polymerisation Bundling and cross-linking (NO branching) As soon as the finger wants to retract it will collapse at the base

29
Q

State four signalling mechanisms that regulate the actin cytoskeleton.

A

Ion flux changes Phosphoinositide signalling Kinases/phosphatases Small GTPases

30
Q

What are the three most important small GTPases in terms of the actin cytoskeleton and what does activation of each cause?

A

Cdc42 – filopodia Rac – lamellipodia Rho – stress fibres NOTE: these are all part of the Rho family

31
Q

Explain how Rac causes actin polymerisation/organisation.

A

Rac binds to and activates WAVE WAVE then activates Arp2/3, which is important in actin organisation

32
Q

Explain how Cdc42 causes actin polymerisation/organisation.

A

Cdc42 binds to WASP WASP also activates Arp2/3

33
Q

Which small GTPases are involved in lamellipodia protrusion?

A

Rac

34
Q

Which small GTPases are involved in focal adhesion assembly?

A

Rac and Rho

35
Q

Which small GTPases are involved in contraction?

A

Rho (stress fibres are important for contraction)