U1T3 & U1T4 - Viruses & Cells Flashcards
What ideas does cell theory embrace?
Cells form the building blocks of living organisms, they arise by cell division, their genetic material is passed from parent to daughter cells in cell division + the cell is the functioning unit of life, metabolism takes place in them.
How have we been able to investigate cell structure in more detail?
The development of the electron microscope.
What does cytoplasm contain?
A large number of organelles which each have a specific function.
What are the 2 different types of cell structure found in living organisms?
Prokaryotic + eukaryotic cells
What are the characteristics of a prokaryotic cell?
Small (1-10um diameter), no nuclei/organelles (mitrochondria/endoplasmic reticulum) + has DNA in a single circular strand in cytoplasm which is naked DNA.
Give an example of prokaryotic cells?
Bacteria + cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
What kind of role does bacteria play?
Some are harmful + responsible for diseases (cholera/plague) + others form the basis of much of modern biotechnology. Play an important role in ecological processes. Nutrient cycles rely on action of bacteria in making elements locked up in complex molecules available to plants once again.
How might eukaryotic cells have evolved?
Evolved from prokaryotic cells some 1000 million years ago.
What are the characteristics of a eukaryotic cell?
Large (10-100um), nucleus separated from cytoplasm by nuclear membrane, nucleus contains chromosomes with helical histone bound chromatins, cytoplasm is compartmentalised by membranes into organelles, contains eukaryotic flagella + cilia made of tubes sometimes with a cell wall.
What can eukaryotic cells develop during cell division?
A mitotic spindle
What are eukaryotic flagella + cilia made of?
A series of tubes arranged in a cylindrical manner.
What does the cell wall of eukaryotic cells usually contain?
Cellulose or chitin
What are plasma membranes made up of?
50:50 lipid and protein by weight, but since proteins are larger than lipids there are about 50 lipids for every protein. Mostly phospholipids, but also cholesterol + glycolipids. Cholesterol only in animal cells, not plant cells.
Why is cholesterol necessary in an animal cell membrane? Why not in plant cells?
It stabilises the cell membrane. The cell wall does this job instead.
Why is the phospholipid bilayer considered a fluid configuration? What do bilayers do?
The molecules can move about freely in their own layers. Provide the structural basis for all cell membranes + gives membrane its selectively permeable property.
What is the main function of a cell’s plasma membrane?
Acts as a selective barrier between inside of cell and extracellular fluid. Regulates transfer of substances into and out of the cell. This keeps it supplied with raw materials and removed waste products. Compartmentalises cell.
What mechanisms are involved with the function of the cell membrane?
Diffusion + active transport.
What do cells lose and gain thanks to diffusion?
Dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide and water molecules.
When can diffusion work?
When there is a difference in concentration. Substances always move down the concentration gradient.
Where can diffusion occur in the cell membrane?
Directly through the lipid bilayer or proteins present in membrane can act as carriers/channels.
What does active transport require in the cell membrane?
Membrane proteins. Energy is used up and substances transported against their concentration gradient.
How do surface carbohydrates work?
Attach to proteins to form glycoproteins or attached to phospholipids to form glycolipids groups. The composition + branching pattern of them varies. They may be involved in cell-cell communication.
What are most glycoproteins?
Intrinsic proteins
What do membrane proteins and glycoproteins determine?
What functions a cell can perform.
What are the main functions of membrane proteins?
Form channels/pores, transporter, act as enzymes, act as receptors, antigens + antibodies, provide stability + support, adhesion sites where adjacent cells are held together. These are often glycoproteins.
Membrane protein functions:
Form channels/pores
Allow substances in and out of cell. Proteins forming these are lined with hydrophilic groups allowing water soluble substances through. Gated channels are important in controlling passage of ions in and out of neurons during nervous conduction.
Membrane protein functions:
Transporter (carrier)
These proteins transport large/polar molecules across membrane by flipping over/across membrane. Energy required.
Membrane protein functions:
Act as enzymes
They catalyse a reaction in or out of the cell (depending where active site faces) e.g. lactase from epithelial cells in small intestine breaks down lactose.
Membrane protein functions:
Act as receptors
Receptor recognises specific ligand. Relays signals between intra and extra cellular space. This can alter cell’s function. e.g. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) binds to receptors in cell membrane in kidneys which changes water permeability of certain plasma membranes.
Membrane protein functions:
Antigens
Usually protein foreign substances on surface membrane of bacterial/viral cell. Once recognised by body, immune response activated.
Membrane protein functions:
Antibodies
Proteins which recognise and destroy the antibodies.
What do most plasma membranes contain for ion movement? Examples of these ions?
Channels
Na+, K+, Cl-.
Where do glycolipids appear?
5% of membrane lipids. Layer that faces the extracellular fluid (outer surface).
What are glycolipids important for?
Adhesion between cells, communication between cells + regulating cell growth + development.
Where are cholesterol molecules found?
20% of membrane lipids. Phospholipids in animal cells. Plant membranes don’t have cholesterol.
What Is the purpose of cholesterol in membranes?
Stabilises the cell membrane, making it more fluid at low temp by acting like a wedge to stop phospholipids from sticking together. At high temp, cholesterol wedges restrict sideways movement of phospholipid so membrane doesn’t become too fluid.
What do cells contain that divide them?
Internal membranes divide cell into diff compartments e.g. mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Describe the nucleus.
Largest organelle in eukaryotic cell (10-25um diameter). Surrounded by double membrane containing nuclear pores. Outer membrane is encrusted with ribosomes + is evaginated to form RER. Contains chromosomes known as chromatin. Also contains nucleolus, may be more than 1, darker staining body
What is the purpose of nuclear pores?
Important for communication + movement of large molecules between nucleoplasm + cytoplasm (transport of mRNA from nucleoplasm to cytoplasm)
Describe chromosomes.
Made of DNA which has been supercoiled. Only visible when cell is dividing, usually spread out.
Describe the nucleolus.
Found within nucleus. Darker staining body. Contains DNA with copies of genes that code for rRNA. rRNA is synthesised here and early stages of ribosomal formation takes place. (1 - 3 um)
Describe ribosomes.
Up to 30nm (Very small) Made of protein + RNA in equal quantities. Site of protein synthesis. mRNA is read here, Ribosomes free in cytoplasm are site of protein synthesis for proteins which stay within cell. Those which are attached to RER produce proteins which are to be secreted from the cell. Formed of large + small subunit, bonded with RNA, frequently occur as groups called polyribosomes. Only 1 molecule made at a time.
Describe the endoplasmic reticulum.
Network of membranes found in cell cytoplasm, consisting of complex system of pairs of membranes arranged parallel to each other enclosing cisternae. Some membranes are covered in ribosomes (RER) Those that aren’t are called the SER.
Describe the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum?
Has no ribosomes but is the site where substances needed by the cell are synthesised, it is also important in the manufacture of lipids. A special form exists in the cytoplasm of voluntary muscle cells. Site of storage of calcium ions, which have an important role in the contraction of muscle fibres.
What is the main function of the SER?
Synthesises, secretes + stores carbohydrates, lipids + other non-protein products.
What is the main function of the RER?
Provides scaffolding for ribosomes to make proteins and operates as a distribution network for these proteins.
What is the main function of the golgi apparatus?
It modifies proteins for export by exocytosis (adding carbohydrate group by changing them into glycoproteins). It is also involved in the production of lysosomes, digestive enzymes + transporting + storing lipids. Also may turn them into lipoproteins by adding lipid, add a prosthetic group/cofactor, form proteins with quaternary structure. They are labelled, packaged or sorted for export.
Why are the enzymes in lysosomes surrounded by a membrane?
Their enzymes would digest the proteins + lipids normally found in the cell and destroy them.
What is the function of lysosomes?
Digest engulfed bacteria enclosed in phagosome by phagocytosis. e.g. Food taken in by amoeba is digested by lysosomal enzymes.
They also hydrolyse worn out cell organelles by fusing with other vesicles.
e.g. metamorphosis, when a frog’s tail disappears as it is gradually reabsorbed, this is done by lysosomes.
Describe the golgi apparatus.
Series of cisternae with a small vesicles entering + leaving the system.
Where are mitochondria found?
Cytoplasmic matrix (cytosol).
What happens when a cell requires energy?
Hydrolyses ATP usin ATP-ase to provide energy whenever it’s needed in mitochondria.
Why might lots of energy be required in a cell?
Active transport (e.g. Absorption of digestive products in small intestine) , movement (e.g. Contraction of muscles) + chemical reactions (e.g. Producing new molecules like liver cells)
Describe the membranes of mitochondria.
Outer layer - smooth surface layer enclosing it.
Inner layer - Convoluted to form cristae which extend into matrix.
Separated by inter membrane space.
Describe cristae.
Provide mitochondria with large surface area. Their membranes are densely studded with stalked particles made of protein which contain enzymes involved in reactions for respiration (ATP production)
Describe spindle fibres.
Important in movement of chromosomes during mitosis + meiosis, formed of microtubules.
What is the function of centrioles?
Assembly of spindle fibres during cell division, formed of microtubules. Also important part of cilia + flagella
Describe centrioles.
Contain microtubules in structure. Animal cells have a pair of centrioles (centrosome) which usually lie at right angles to each other + adjacent to nuclear membrane. Each consists of 9 groups (triplets) of microtubules in circular arrangement.
What happens during cell division in terms of centrioles?
Centrioles separate + move to opposite ends of cell where they act as a focus for formation of a spindle. The fibres of the spindle play an important part in cell division by pulling diff groups of chromosomes apart to form nuclei of daughter cells.
What organelles are present in animal cells?
Nucleolus, nuclear membrane, cell surface membrane, free ribosomes, SER, glycogen granules, enchromatin, mictochondria, heterochromatin, RER, centriole, vesicles, nucleus + golgi apparatus.
What organelles are present in plant cells?
Nucleus, RER, cell wall (cellulose), vacuole, tonoplast, plasmodesmata, SER, mitochondria, chloroplast, middle lamella + golgi apparatus.
What organelles are present in fungal cells?
SER, nucleus, vacuole, RER, cell wall (chitin), mitochondria, glycogen granules, nucleus (some have none whilst some are multinucleate) + lysosomes.
What organelles are present in prokaryotic cells?
Cell wall (glycoprotein), small ribosomes, slime capsule, storage granules, plasmid, cytoplas + free DNA.
Describe the plant cell wall.
Immediately outside the cell surface membrane, 1um thick, made of cellulose which is laid down as microfibrils. Fully permeable, doesn’t control entry + exist of substances.