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Physiology > Unit 2: Cellular Physiology > Flashcards

Unit 2: Cellular Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three main components of the cell?

A

-A plasma membrane, nucleus and cytoplasm

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2
Q

What is the purpose of the Plasma Membrane?

A

Oily layer that separates the ICF from the ECF.

-Allows for selective permeability of substances

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3
Q

What constitutes the Nucleus?

A
  • Double membrane layer that has nuclear pores which allow for selective materials in and out of the nucleus
  • Contains DNA for protein synthesis & to hold genetic information
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4
Q

What is mRNA?

A

Delivers the coded message to ribosomes which “read” mRNA templates and translate it into a proper amino acid sequence

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5
Q

What is rRNA?

A

-An essential component of ribosomes.

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6
Q

What is tRNA?

A

-Transfers the appropriate amino acids within the cytoplasm to their designated site in the synthesizing protein.

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7
Q

What is the cytosol?

A

Semi-fluid medium in which many biochemical events occur within. Contains all the macromolecules.

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8
Q

What is the cytoskeleton?

A
  • Protein network that gives the cell its shape, provides internal organization and regulates its various movements.
  • ->Consists of microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules.
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9
Q

What are organelles?

A

Compartments within the cells that carry out specific tasks. There are 6 organelles:
ER, golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondria and vaults.

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10
Q

Components of the RER?

A
  • Studded with ribosomes, so it undergoes protein synthesis.
  • Proteins can be transported within the cell or secreted elsewhere throughout the golgi.
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11
Q

Components of the SER?

A

-Does not contain ribosomes.
Primarily serves as a central packaging and discharge site for molecules to be transported to the ER.
-Sends molecules to transport vesicles where they can be distributed.

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12
Q

What are vesicles?

A

Cargo containers

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13
Q

What is the main purpose of the SER?

A

Lipid Synthesis

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14
Q

What is the SER in muscle cells?

A

The Sarcoplasmic Reticulum which stores calcium.

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15
Q

What is the Golgi complex?

A

The golgi complex is composed of stacks that bind with vesicles, sort and transport molecules appropriately.
–>Raw materials are turned into finished products and sorted accordingly. Each product is marked with a docking marker to ensure it gets sorted correctly.

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16
Q

Define exocytosis?

A

The mechanism of extruding substances to the cell’s exterior.
“Secretion of contents”

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17
Q

Where do secretory vesicles bind to cells?

A

ONLY to the plasma membrane and not into the actual cells internal membrane.

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18
Q

What are v-snares & t-snares?

A

After vesicles shed coating proteins, docking markers are exposed, which can bind with protein markers on the target membrane.

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19
Q

What are lysosomes?

A

Membrane enclosed sacs that contain powerful hydrolytic enzymes, capable of lysing and destroying cells.

  • Form in the Golgi Complex
  • Like a cell’s miniature digestive system
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20
Q

What is Phagocytosis?

A
  • A type of endocytosis
  • In taking of material by the cell by engulfing the foreign matter.
  • ->Most commonly occurs in WBC’s.
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21
Q

What is Pinocytosis?

A

“Cell Drinking”

  • A small droplet of extracellular fluid is internalized.
  • The plasma membrane drips inward, which seals at the surface around the ECF contents.
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22
Q

What is the name of the protein responsible for pinching off Endocytotic vesicles?

A

Dynamin

23
Q

Explain Receptor- Mediated Endocytosis?

A
  • Intake of material by receptor- protein binding.
  • Membrane sinks and seals at the surface.
  • Highly selective, but allows intake of large molecules from the environment.
24
Q

What are psuedopods?

A
  • “False Feet”
  • Surround the material to be engulfed and trap it within an internalized vesicle.
  • ->Lysosomes then bind with the vesicle and break down the foreign matter.
25
Q

What is the name of Selective Digestion?

A

-Autophagy

26
Q

What is Tay-Saach’s Disease?

A

-Abnormal accumulation of of complex molecules formed in nerve cells.

27
Q

What are peroxisomes?

A
  • House oxidative enzymes
  • ->Use oxygen to strip hydrogen
  • ->help detoxify waste within cells.
  • Major product is H202.
28
Q

What does catalase do?

A

-Turns harmful H2O2 into H20 and CO2 from the oxidative enzymes.

29
Q

Mitochondria Recap.

A

“Powerhouse of the Cell”
Produces 90% of the cell’s energy
-Contains both a smooth outer membrane and a folded inner membrane (cristae), with a fluid matrix.
*Cristae contains proteins that turns food into useable energy (metabolism)
–>Majority of metabolic processes occur in the matrix!

30
Q

Glycolysis Recap.

A
  • Turns glucose into 2 pyruvate
  • Happens in the cytosol.
  • Takes 10 reactions to do so.
  • ->Produces 2 ATP/ glucose.
31
Q

TCA Recap.

A
  • Pyruvate is converted into 2 Acetyl CoA by the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase complex.
  • Produces energy rich molecules ATP, NADH (2 ATP) and FADH2 (1 ATP)
32
Q

Electron Transport Chain Recap

A

High energy electrons are extracted from NADH and FADH2.

–> Move along the assembly line, and produce cumulatively 30 ATP.

33
Q

Oxidative Phosphorylation

A

-Occurs when oxygen is present.
–>Produces 36 ATP.
Starts in cytosol and ends in the matrix.

34
Q

Substrate-Level Phosphorylation

A
  • Occurs when no oxygen is present.
  • ->Produces 2 ATP/ glucose (Less effective)
  • Can’t proceed beyond glycolysis.
  • Pyruvic acid is turned into lactic acid.
35
Q

What are vaults?

A

-Shaped like octagonal barrels
-Hollow interior
Function: MIGHT be used to transport mRNA
-Nucleus to cytoplasm transporters of RNA

36
Q

What is Cytosol?

A

55% of cell volume

  • ->Gel like fluid
  • Surrounds organelles
37
Q

What is inclusions?

A

-Non-permanent storage houses for fat, glycogen and secretory vesicles in the cytosol.

38
Q

What are the 2 houses for Fat storage?

A

Adipose tissue (fat droplets) and glycogen (liver and muscle)

39
Q

What are Microtubules?

A
  • Hollow tubules composed of protein TUBULIN.
  • Determine cell shape and function
  • Important for spindle formation during mitosis!
  • ->Make up cilia and flagella.
40
Q

What is Mitotic Spindle?

A

-Assembled from microtubules only during cell division, and are assembled from centrioles.

41
Q

What are Microfilaments?

A
  • Smallest elements of the cytoskeleton
  • –>Composed of ACTIN.
  • Vital for contractile systems.
  • Important in motility, especially for pseudopods “false feet” in amoebas.
42
Q

What are Intermediate Filaments?

A
  • “Middle size”
  • Form tough, durable fibres.
  • Resist mechanical forces/ strain.
43
Q

What makes up DNA?

A

-A deoxyribose sugar, a nucleotide base and a negative phosphate backbone.
A-T C-G

44
Q

2 Main Functions of DNA

A
  • amino acid synthesis

- synthesizing polypeptides

45
Q

What is a gene?

A
  • A stretch of DNA that codes for the synthesis of a particular protein
  • -Found in chromosomes.
46
Q

How many chromosomes do somatic cells contain?

A

-46 (23 pairs)

47
Q

How many chromosomes do germ cells (gamates) contain?

A

Only 1 member of each homologous pair (23)

48
Q

What is the function of histone proteins?

A

-Key role in packaging DNA into chromosomal structure.

49
Q

What is the function of non-histone proteins?

A

-Gene regulation.

50
Q

What makes up condensed chromatin?

A

-Histones + DNA + Non-Histones

51
Q

DNA Replication Recap.

A

-Double stranded DNA unzips by helicase, and complimentary base pairing occurs on these strands. Creates new templates.
Semi Conservative Process
(One old, one new)

52
Q

Transcription/ Translation Recap.

A

RNA serves as a “go-between” for DNA sequenced in the nucleus and protein synthesis in ribosomes.

  • RNA is produced in the nucleus, and exits through nuclear pores into the cytosol where ribosomes are present as mRNA!
  • mRNA carries the blueprint message.
  • Once on the ribosome, tRNA puts the nucleotides into amino acid chains.
  • DNA–> RNA–> Protein
53
Q

Mitosis Recap.

A

-Daughter cells receive an identical, double strand of DNA.
*In multi cellular organisms, mitosis is used for growth and development.
Includes interphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase (cytokinesis)

54
Q

Meiosis Recap.

A

-Cell division of the gonads.
-Produces 4 gamates (daughter cells)
Each gamate contains a single strand of DNA.
–>2 cell divisions in meiosis
-Meiosis 1 includes chromosomal crossing over, which leads to genetic variation.
-In meiosis 2, the 23 chromosomes line up and and separate at the end of the spindles.
–>Sperms and Eggs are haploid.

Physiology (12 decks)

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