Unit 1 Flashcards
Affinity chromatography
A technique used to separate and purify proteins based on a specific binding interaction between an immobilised ligand and its binding partner.
Bright-field microscopy
Technique used to observe whole organisms, parts of organisms, thin sections of dissected tissues or individual cells.
buffer
a solution used to set and maintain a particular pH
centrifugation
a process that uses centrifugal forces to separate components of different densities in a mixture.
fluorescence microscopy
microscopy technique that uses specific fluorescent labels to bind to and visualise certain molecules or structures within cells or tissues.
Native page
Molecules not denatured, separated based on shape, size and charge
SDS page
Molecules denatured and given equally negative charge. Separating proteins on size alone.
Growth factors
proteins that promote cell growth and proliferation
Haemocytometer
Microscopic grid used to estimate the total number of cells within a sample
Hazard
anything that poses a potential risk or threat to an individual or the environment.
immunoassay
technique used to detect and identify specific proteins
inoculum
starting material used to grow a culture from
iso-electric point
the pH at which a soluble protein has no net charge and will precipitate out of a solution.
Linear dilution series
A series of dilutions that differ by an equal interval
Log dilution series
A series of dilutions that differ by a constant proportion
primary cell lines
a culture of cells is isolated directly from animal or plant tissues; they have a finite life-span and limited expansion capacity.
reporter enzyme
an enzyme linked to an antibody specific to a protein antigen; used in immunoassay techniques.
serum
source of growth factors, hormones, lipids and minerals for the culture of cells.
supernatant
the liquid that lies above a solid residue or pellet in centrifugation
turbidity
a measure of the degree to which a fluid loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particles or cells in suspension
vital staining
a technique in which a harmless dye is sued to stain either living tissue cells or dead cells for microscopical observation to allow a viable cell count to be made.
western blotting
an analytical technique used to identify and locate specific proteins in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract based on their ability to bind to specific antibodies.
allosteric enzymes
enzymes that change conformation in response to a modulator.
alpha helix
Polypeptide chain, coiled into a helix with hydrogen bonding occurring to maintain the arrangement
Alternative RNA splicing
removal of non-coding introns from a primary mRNA transcript to leave only the coding exons. several different mature Transcripts can be produced from a single primary transcript.
beta pleated sheets
polypeptide chain arranged in rows with the chain folding in parallèle or anti parallel arrangements
stabilised by hydrogen bonds
confirmation
structural arrangement of the polypeptide chains within a protein, it can be altered by factors such as pH and the bonding of ligands and modulators
cooperativity
changes in binding of a target molecules to one subunit chnaged the affinity of the other other subunits for the target molecule
disulphide bridge
a strong covalent bond that stabilises the tertiary and quaternary structures of many proteins
endoplasmic reticulum
a network of membrane tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, continuous with the nuclear membrane
exon
section of RNA that is usually retain during splicing
glycoprotein
a protein with a carbohydrate added by post-translational modification.
golgi apparatus
a series of flattened membrane discs that packages proteins into membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell, before the vesicles are sent to their destination. site of post translational modifications (addition of carbohydrates)
hydrolyse
a class of enzymes that use water to break chemical bonds
ligand
a substance that can bind to a protein, it is complementary
lysosome
a modified golgi vesicle containing hyrolytic enzymes
modulators
these bond to a secondary site on an enzyme to alter its conformation: positive modulators activate enzymes and negative modulators deactivate them
prosthetic group
a non-protein unit tightly bound to a protein and necessary for its function
protein kinases
catalyse the transfer of a phosphate group from a donor (ATP) to an acceptor (Phosphorylation)
protein phosphatase
an enzyme that removes a phosphate group from its substrate
primary structure
sequence in which amino acids are found within a protein
secondary structure
hydrogen bonding occurring within a polypeptide forming alpha helixes or beta pleated sheets
tertiary structure
binding of many types occurring between the R groups of amino acids within a protein
quaternary structure
the arrangement of multiple folded polypeptide subunits connected together
protéolytique cleavage
a major form of pst-translational modification; it occurs when a protease cleaves one or more bonds in a target protein to activate, inhibit or destroy the proteins activity
rough endoplasmic reticulum
organelle made up of membranes with ribosomes attached,