Unit 1 Flashcards
Why are cells the smallest units exhibiting life characteristics?
Because they are able to reproduce themselves by their own efforts
Why are Organelles are NOT the smallest units exhibiting the characteristics of life?
they are NOT able to reproduce themselves by their own efforts outside of the host cell. Has a specific function in a cell.
Why are Viruses are NOT the smallest units exhibiting the characteristics of life
Because they’re NOT able to reproduce themselves by their own efforts; they use the host reproductive machinery
Hooke made the _____, _____ refined it.
Light microscope,
Leeuwenhoek
1m = ____
10^10 A’s
Basic properties of cells (1 & 2 most basic)
- Life: Can grow and reproduce in culture for long periods
- Highly complex, regulated and organized. Cells of similar structure have conserved metabolic and compositional features that has been conserved over evolutionary time.
Basic properties of cells (3-10 )
- Posses a genetic program and means to use it
- Capable of producing more of themselves
- Acquire and utilize energy
- Carry out rxn’s. Sum of rxn’s called metabolism
- Engage in mechanical activities
- Able to respond to stimuli
- Capable of self-regulation
- They evolve
Two types cells and what distinguishes them
- Prokaryote (all bacteria)
- Eukaryote (protists, animals, plants, fungi)
* Distinguished by cell size and organelles present
In prokaryotes, DNA is
NOT segregated within a nucleus
In eukaryotes, DNA is
segregated within a defined nucleus
Prokaryotes contain a single
Membrane-limited compartment and nucleuoid
Nucleiod
(in prokaryotes) which is a single circular DNA molecule not surrounded by a membrane separating it from the cytoplasm.
Features common to prokaryotes and eukaryotes
- Plasma membrane of similar construction
- Genetic information in DNA, using identical genetic code
- Both store chemical energy in the form of ATP
- Shared metabolic pathways (glycolysis, TCA cycle)
- Proteasomes (for protein degradation) of similar construction
Features of eukaryotic cells not found in prokaryotic cells
- Nuclear envelope, separating nucleus from cytoplasm
- Complex chromosomes that compact into mitotic structures
- Membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles
- Cytoskeleton with associated motor proteins
Features of genetic material distinguishing eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells
- Packaging: Prokaryotes have a nucleoid region whereas
eukaryotes have a membrane-bound nucleus. - Amount: Eukaryotes have much more genetic material
than prokaryotes. - Form: Eukaryotes have many chromosomes made of both DNA and protein (histones) whereas prokaryotes have a single, circular DNA with no histone proteins.
The Nucleus is surrounded by a
double membrane, called the nuclear envelope
The nucleus communicates with the cytosol via
Nuclear pores that perforate the envelope
Nuclear envelope consists of:
- 2x Concentric membranes (inner and outer) with perinuclear space in between.
- Nuclear lamina for structural support
- Nuclear pores with a central granule perforations in envelope.
What does the nuclear lamina do (function)
- Supports the nuclear envelope, composed of lamins.
Integrity of nuclear lamina regulated by
phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.
Human conditions Re: Nuclear lamina
- Lamin A/C mutation causes Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome
- Lamin B mutation causes leukodystrophy (loss of myelin)
– Mutations in lamin binding protein emerin cause Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (elbows, neck and heels become stiff, heart problems)
Mutations in emerin cause
Mutations in this lamin binding protein (emerin) cause Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (elbows, neck and heels become stiff, heart problems)
Emerin
Lamin binding protein
NPC stand for:
Nuclear pore complexes
NPC types of transport
- Passive diffusion (small molecules)
- Energy-dependent transport (proteins, mRNA, lamins and components of nucleus, importins)
NPC transport receptors are called, and what is their purpose
Importins; deliver other proteins to the nucleus.
rRNA subunit complexes
40S + 60S ribosomal subunits
NPC in vertebrates contains
scaffold (anchors) to the nuclear envelope, rings bext to cytoplasm and nucleus, nuclear basked and octagonal cytoplasmic filaments.
NPC structure size and channel info:
15-30x size of ribosome
Octagonal
Channel 20-30mm wide
F-G (phenylalanine and glycine) hydrophobic domains ~ sieve that blocks larger macromolecules
NPC size exclusion
> /= 40kDa
Proteins that import are called
Importins
The outer _____ is continuous with the _________. And, the space between the outer and inner _______ is continuous with the ______ of the ______ ER
nuclear membrane,
Rough ER,
Nuclear membranes,
Lumen,
Rough ER
Prokaryote ribosome components that must be bound to function
50S + 30S ~ 70S
Eukaryote ribosome components that must be bound to function
60S + 40S ~ 80S
Nucleolus
the sub-organelle of nucleus, where ribosomes are assembled
Chromatin
The complexes of eukaryotic DNA and proteins. Contains 2x amount of proteins vs DNA
Major component (proteins) of chromatic are called
Histones
Histones are (and what they’re known to have lots of)
Small proteins (11-23kDa) with lots of basic AA’s (Arg and Lys), facilitate binding to -vely charged DNA molecules
Chromatin = ____ + ______
DNA + Histones
How many types of histones?
5 types:
H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4
Basic structural unit of chromatin is the
Nucleosome
Nucleosome contents:
DNA wrapped around octamer of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 in a nucleosome core particle, then sealed by H1.
Nonhistone particles bind to linker DNA between nucleosome core particles.
Compaction of DNA amount with histones (first step):
7-fold
Higher order structures of chromatin and how much they compact it
Step 2: Histone interactions forming 30nm fibers by zig-zags and solenoids result in 6-fold more compaction
Step 3: 30nm fibers organized into 80-100nm supercoiled loops (cohesion ring) stabilized by protein called Cohesin
Overall mitotic chromosome compactness of DNA into chromatin
10 000:1
As a cell prepares to divide into two daughter cells… ____
chromatin condenses into chromosomes
Euchromatin is chromatin that was
In a nucleus
Euchromatin returns to a _____ after Mitosis
Dispersed state
Heterochromatin is even more
Compact than euchromatin
When DNA is more compacted, it is less likely that
those genes are being expressed.
Heterochromatin is condensed during
Mitosis
Two types of heterochromatin
- Constitutive heterochromatin (stays condensed). Usually around
-Centromeres, telomeres - Facultative heterochromatin (activates/inactivates during certain phases of organism’s life)
Example of Facultative heterochromatin:
X-activation on a Barr body on X chromosome. One is activated and more compact.
Mitochondria plays this critical role
in the generation of metabolic energy (ATP) in eukaryotic cells via cellular respiration
Why can’t you get sense of live action w/ a micrograph?
Because cell is dead.
Major determinant of mitochondrial morphology
Balance between fusion and fission (which occurs constantly)
Single mitochondrion length
~4 μm length
Where ER meets mitochondria is where _____ collects and fission with _____ will separate mitochondria via fission.
DRP1,
ER tubule
How do mitochondria arise?
By fission from existing mitochondria
Steps of process of mitochondria fission
Induced by contact with ER tubules
-GTPase binds to Drp1and Drp1 surrounds fission site and squeeze it into separate mitochondria.
Mitochondria surrounded by a
double-membrane system, consisting of inner and outer mitochondrial membranes separated by an intermembrane space.