Week 1 Flashcards
Tertiary protein structures
Proteins fold into a 3 structure that requires lowest energy
What’s used to determine protein structure
X-ray crystallography, NMR
Cryo-EM= cryogenic electron microscopy. At cryogenic temps= -238 to-460 F
Proteins are not rigid structures
Conformation is flexible and dynamic. The function of many proteins relies on changes in conformation
E.g enzyme activation and substrate binding (induced fit hypothesis)
For example: cyclin dependent kinase Cdk in cell cycle- Cdk enzyme is only active when cyclin binds to it and alters in conformation
Protein functions include
Binding
Catalysis
Switching e.g. cell signalling pathways
Structural roles e.g. cytoskeleton elements
Regulation of protein function; localisation in the cell
Majority proteins synthesised on ribosomes rER in cytosol each protein contains a sorting signal to direct it to correct site in cell. Proteins move from cytosol into organelles via transporters located in membrane
The secretory pathway
Proteins transported from one compartment to another via transport vesicles. Specialised cells have secretory vesicles. Store hormones, enzymes for future . Require extracellular signal to fuse and release
Protein modification
Most are post translationally modified in the rER. Includes disulphide bonds and glycosylation (i.e. sugars added)
Further modified in Golgi apparatus
Phosphorylation
Phosphate group is attached covalently to amino acid side chains can inhibit or activate protein
Induces a conformational change in protein
Reaction is catalysed by protein kinase (uses ATP)
Dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase
Unfolded protein response (UPR)
UPR works as a homeostatic response to keep a cell’s folding capacity in balance with its needs
An imbalance in this process leads to ER stress (accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in ER lumen) and an increase in unfolded proteins
Can inhibit translation and lead to cell death
widespread effects on physiology, linked to many diseases:
-Alzheimer’s: caused by increase in protein folding compared to degradation which results in build up of proteins (amyloids) in ER leading to stress and damage
-Parkinson’s and heart disease
How do we study tissues
Fixation-prevents degradation and helps maintain architecture
Dissection
Embedding- in wax or plastic resin, cut thin sections using microtome
Sectioning
Staining -acid/ basic dye
Visualisation
Staining
Can be specific or general most commonly used is H&E- haematoxylin and eosin
Dyes bind to different areas of cell depending on pH
Four main tissue types
Muscle
Epithelial
Connective
Nervous 0
What are the two types of epithelium
Covering - lines cavities and cover surfaces
Glandular- secretory epithelia cells
How do cells join to form a functional epithelium
Join with adjacent cells to form a continuous sheet
Cells form cell to cell junctions and adhere to a basement membrane this side of the cell is referred to as basal
PAS (peiodic acid-Schiff) stain
Specialist stain, stains particular carbohydrates & glycoproteins in the basement membrane
Naming epithelial tissue
Number of layers- simple or stratified
Shape of cells - cuboidal (round cube shape), columnar (taller than wider), squamous (flat)
Specialisation -ciliated, keratinised
Exceptions to classifications epithelium
Pseudostratified -looks like multiple layers but is only one all cells attached to basement membrane
Transitional- changes shape of top layer depending on environment. Urothelium stretches
Apical side (apex/luminal)
Cellular specialisations: keratinisation, cilia, microvilli
Specialised junctions
Basal side
Anchors to basement membrane
Allows cells to receive nutrients
Allows cells to receive nervous innervation