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Science For Medicine > The Cell > Flashcards

The Cell Flashcards

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1
Q

Into what two compartments can cells be divided

A

Nucleus
Cytoplasm
(both contain organelles)

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2
Q

What is the cytosol

A

Aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell which contains organelles and fluids

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3
Q

What is the purpose of the nucleus

A

Contains DNA, nucleoprotein and some RNA

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4
Q

Where is the nucleous found

A

In the nucleus

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5
Q

What is the function of the nucleolus

A

Serves as sites for for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosomal assembly

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6
Q

What is the endoplasmic reticulum

A

An interconnecting network of membranous tubules, vesicles and flattened sacs (cisternae)
It is membrane bound

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7
Q

What forms of the ER are there

A 
Smooth ER
Rough ER (studded appearance due to ribosomes)
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8
Q

What does the rough ER do

A

Synthesises and secretes/packages proteins

Coordinates protein modifications and transport

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9
Q

What is the function of the smooth ER

A

Breakdown compounds (e.g. drugs and glycogen) or synthesise some compounds (e.g. lipids)

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10
Q

What are ribosomes

A

Protein factories of the cells

Minute cytoplasmic organelles with 2 subunits

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11
Q

What is the golgi apparatus

A

A Stack of flattened vesicles which coordinate protein modifications and transport
It is membrane bound

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12
Q

What are lysosomes

A

They are used to separate enzymes from the rest of the cell and in autophagy or digestion of engulfed particles (e.g. bacteria)

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13
Q

What is a peroxisome

A

A small membrane bound organelle that contains enzymes

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14
Q

What enzymes do peroxisomes contain

A

Catalase

Oxidases

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15
Q

What does catalase do

A

Regulate hydrogen peroxide concentration

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16
Q

What do oxidases do

A

They are involved in Beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acids

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17
Q

What is the mitochondra

A

A mobile, cigar shaped organelle that has a permeable outer membrane containing pores
It has a folded inner membrane and a matrix which has binding sites for calcium and also most of the enzymes for oxidation of food molecules (e.g. Krebs cycle)
It has circular DNA and ribosomes

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18
Q

What is the folded inner membrane of the mitochondria called

A

Cristae

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19
Q

What is the mitochondria required for

A

Oxidation
Krebs Cycle
It synthesises most of its own proteins and can self replicate

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20
Q

What are the three main compartments of the cytoskeleton

A

Microfilaments
Intermediate filaments
Microtubules

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21
Q

What is the function of the cytoskeleton

A 
Supports and maintains cell shape
Holds organelles in position
Moves organelles
Involved in cytoplasmic streaming
Interacts with extracellular structures to hold cell in place
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22
Q

What are microfilaments made from

A

Strands of the actin protein

They tend to interact with strands of other proteins

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23
Q

What do microfilaments form in the small intestine

A

Microvilli

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24
Q

What are microtubules

A

Long, hollow cylinders made up of many molecules of the protein tubulin

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25
How many microtubules form cilia
9 pairs of microtubules
26
What are the major elements used to construct human biomolecules (hint: there is 10)
``` O H C N Na Cl K Ca S P ```
27
How can chemical functional groups determine biomolecular function Give an example
Functional groups can affect how the molecule acts around others e.g. OH groups allow for hydrogen bonds and solubility in water S groups allow di-sulphide bridges.
28
What is configuration
The fixed arrangement of atoms in a molecule e.g. determines the Cis/Trans structure
29
What is conformation
The Precise arrangement of atoms in a molecule (free rotation etc.)
30
What are the 5 types of chemical reactions which can occur in living organisms
``` Redox reactions Making/breaking C-C bonds Internal rearrangements Group transfers Condensation/hydrolysis ```
31
What is a redox reaction
When (usually) two electrons and two protons are gained or lost. Normally 2 H atoms will be transferred from one molecule to another in dehydrogenation reactions
32
Give an example of a redox reaction
Glycolysis in the muscles which converts glucose to pyruvate then to lactate
33
Give an example of making/breaking C-C bonds
Cleavage of glucose in glycolysis
34
Give an example of internal rearrangements chemical reactions
Conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate in glycolysis
35
Give an example of group transfer chemical reactions
The transfer of phosphate groups in glycolysis
36
What is a condensation reaction
Two molecules combining to form a larger molecule while producing water e.g. formation of nucleic acids and proteins
37
What is hydrolysis
A large molecule splitting into two smaller molecules using water e.g. breaking of nucleic acids and proteins
38
How can water form a hydrogen bond
Water has an electronegative oxygen atom so is a polar molecule and can from bonds between any other electronegative atom (mainly N or O) and an electropositive H atom
39
What is a hydrogen bond
The bond between any electronegative atom (usually N or O) and an electropositive H atom
40
What are molecules that form H bonds with water considered to be
Soluble
41
How do the interactions between water molecules and solutes define solubility
In water, the solute-solute and water-water H bonding is replaced with water-solute H bonding as it is more favourable (also works for charged molecules) Uncharged molecules are not soluble which can be seen as they rearrange themselves in water to minimise the disruption of the surrounding water molecules, forming “cages”
42
What is an amphipathic molecule
A molecule that contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts
43
Give an example of an amphipathic molecule
Phospholipids which have hydrophilic phosphate heads and hydrophobic fatty acid tails. In water, they minimise disruption by forming bilayers or micelles
44
Define pH
pH is a measure of proton concentration | pH = -log[H+]
45
Which equation relates the degree of proton dissociation of a weak acid to its ionisation constant and the pH
pH=pKa + log [A-]/[HA]
46
What is a buffer
Solutions of weak acids
47
What is the difference between acids in solution and weak acids in solution
Acids dissociate to a conjugate acid-base pair | Weak acids do not dissociate very much
48
What does the nucleus contain
DNA, nucleoprotein and some RNA
49
Describe the nuclear membrane (envelope)
``` It as a: Phospholipid bilayer Encloses the nucleus Contains pores Closely associated with the endoplasmic reticulum ```
50
In what forms can DNA be found in
Heterochromatin | Euchromatin
51
What is the difference between the RER and SER
RER has ribosomes attached
52
What is autophagy
Digestion of cells own materials
53
What subunits does tublin have
Alpha-tublin | Beta-tublin
54
What are intermediate filaments
Fibrous proteins organised into tough, rope-like assemblages which stabilise a cell's structure and help maintain its shape
55
What are cilla and eukaryotic flagella made up of
Microtubles
56
Describe cilia
Short, usually many present, move with stiff power stroke and flexible recovery stroke
57
Describe flagella
Longer, usually one or two present, movement is snakelike
58
What are proteins
Polymers of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds
59
What are nucleic acids
Polymers of nucleotide monomers linked by 3’,5’-phosphodiester bonds
60
What kinds of bases are in nucleic acids
Pyrimidines | Purines
61
What is the structure of purines
Flat double rings | Flat planar structure
62
What is the structure of pyrimidines
Flat single rings | Flat planar structure
63
Name three pyrimidines
Cytosine (C), thymine (T) and uracil (U)
64
Name two purines
Adenine (A) and guanine (G
65
A pyrimidine/purine base + a ribose/dexoyribose =
Nucleoside
66
A nucleoside + a phosphate
Nucleotide
67
Describe the structure of polysaccharides
Polymers of sugar monomers linked by glycosidic bonds
68
Give examples of polysaccharides
Starch and glycogen which are both polymers of D-glucose
69
What is D-glucose
A reducing sugar
70
Why is D-glucose termed a reducing sugar
Because the linear form (but not cyclic form) has an aldehyde group, which can be oxidised when this is oxidised then the other reactant would be reduced
71
How are glucose polymers formed
From the condensation reaction between two glucose monomers
72
What happens to glucose monomers when they link together
All monomers of the chain are locked in the cyclic form except the end monomer, which can remain linear
73
What is the end monomer in a glucose called
A ‘reducing end'
74
What are lipids
One or more long-chain fatty acid
75
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Saturated: no double bond Unsaturated: double bond
76
If there are many double bonds present in a fatty acids is it liquid or solid
Liquid
77
If there are many few double bonds present in a fatty acids is it liquid or solid
Solid
78
What are triglycerides
Non-polar Storage lipids 3 fatty acid chains linked to glycerol A type of lipid
79
What are phospholipids
``` ‘Head’ group attached to the glycerol which makes them polar Hydrophillic head (consists of polar group, phosphate and glycerol) Hydrophobic tail (2 fatty acid chains) ```
80
What is the structure of the eukaryotic plasma membrane
Has amphipathic membrane lipids | Has membrane proteins (either spanning the membrane or embedded in it)
81
What is the function of the eukaryotic plasma membrane
Selective barrier | Detects chemical messengers and signalling molecules from surrounding cells or other organs

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