Theme 4 Flashcards
stem cells
found in early embryos
- unspecialized cells that can reproduce indefinitely and can differentiate into specialized cells
binary fission
the way by which prokaryotic cells divide
write out the process
FtsZ
a gene in (prokaryotic) bacteria that regulates cell division
- it encodes for a specific protein that assembles and forms a ring at the site of constriction
mitotic cell division
how eukaryotic cells divide
- first requires breakdown of nuclear envelope and DNA needs to be separated, later rebuilding of nuclear envelope is necessary
2 stages of eukaryotic cell division
M phase
interphase
M phase
parent cell divides into 2 daughter cells, last about an hour
- 2 parts: mitosis and cytokinesis
mitosis
the separation of chromosomes into 2 nuclei
cytokinesis
divison of a single cell into 2 separate cells
- can begin before mitosis is even complete
interphase
the time between M phases where the cell preps for division
3 phases: G1 phase, S-phase, and G2 phase
G1 phase
b/w end of M and start of S phases
- regulatory proteins are activated (many are kinases) and promote activity of enzymes that synthesize DNA
- basically prep for S-phase
S-phase
replication of DNA in the nucleus
S for DNA Synthesis
G2 phase
between end of S phase and start of M phase
- size and protein content of cell increase in preparation for division
- preparation for mitosis and cytokinesis (M-phase)
G0 phase
before when cell would enter into G1 phase
- when cells pause in the cell cycle
ex. nerve cells, cells in the lens of the eye, cells permanently in G0 are non-dividing cells
time for cell cycle completion in eukaryotes
about 12-24 hours for actively dividing cells
chromosome
each contains a single molecule of DNA that codes for a specific set of genes
karyotype
the portrait formed by the number and shape of chromosomes representative of a species
- most human cells (not incl gametes) have 46 chromosomes), of these 22 are homologous (identical pairs) numbered 1-22 from longest to shortest. also has one pair of sex chromosomes
haploid vs diploid cell
haploid cell: has one complete set of chromosomes
diploid cell: has 2 complete sets of chromosomes
sister chromatids
2 identical copies of a chromosome are attached by a centromere
- each daughter ell needs to receive the same number of chromosomes as present in the parent cell
prophase
chromosomes condense and become visible
- in cytosol, cell begins to assemble mitotic spindle made up of microtubules which pulls chromosomes into 2 daughter cells
- centrosomes migrate to opposite poles and tubulin dimers assemble around them, forming microtubules that radiate from each centromere which serve as a guide for later chromosome movement
centrosome
a compact structure that is the microtubule organizing centre from where mitotic spindles radiate
- it duplicates during S phase and 1 migrates to each pole of cell at start of prophase
prometaphase
chromosomes attach to mitotic spindle
- nuclear envelope breaks down
- microtubules attach to kinetochore regions of centromeres and pull sister chromatids apart
kinetochores
2 protein complexes associated with the centromere
- one is located on either side of the constriction and one associated with either of the sister chromatids on either side of the centromere
metaphase
chromosome align in the centre of the cell at the metaphase plate (a region, not a structure)
- microtubules lengthen or shorten to position chromosomes at the centre
anaphase
sister chromatids fully separate as kinetochore microtubules shorten and centromere splits, chromatids are then pulled towards opposite poles
- after separation, each chromatids is considered a full chromosome!
telophase
nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes and creates 2 new nuclei
- cell prepares division into 2 cells
- microtubules of mitotic spindles break down
- as 2 new nuclei become more distinct, the chromosomes contained decondense and become less visible under a microscope
cytokinesis (animal cells)
a ringe of actin fibers (called the contractile ring) forms at the equator of a cell which contracts, pinching the cytoplasm of the cell and dividing it into 2
cytokinesis (plant cells)
division is achieved by constructing a new cell wall
- a phragmoplast (overlapping microtubules containing cell wall components) moves to the middle of the cell
- the fragments fuse to form a cell wall called the cell plate which fuses to the original cell where it’s about to split and then creates 2 new daughter cells
regulation of the cell cycle
done by cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs)
cyclin
a protein that activates kinases
- levels rise and fall with each cell cycle
kinase
an enzyme that activates or inactivates other proteins by phosphorylating key AAs on the target proteins
cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs)
phosphorylate target proteins involved in promoting cell division
- always present but active only when bound to cyclin
cyclin-CDK complex
- triggers cell division events to occur by phosphorylating target proteins that promote cell division
types of cyclin-CDK complexes that regulate the cell cycle
G1/S cyclin-CDK complex
S cyclin-CDK complex
M cyclin-CDK complex
G1/S cyclin-CDK complex
active near the end of G1 phase, necessary for the cell to enter the S phase
- activates a protein that promotes expression of histone proteins needed for packaging newly replicated DNA
S cyclin-CDK complex
necessary for the cell to initiate DNA synthesis
- activates enzymes and proteins needed for DNA replication
- once replication has begun, the complex prevents the proteins from reassembling in the same place again and re-replicating the same DNA sequence
M cyclin-CDK complex
initiates multiple events associated with mitosis by activating structural proteins in the nucleus that break down the nuclear envelope
- also activates proteins that assemble tubulin into microtubules and promote mitotic spindle formation