week 2 Flashcards
What are immunity proteins essential for?
Defense against foreign pathogens
What are cytokines?
Small proteins essential for communication between immune cells
Which cells mainly produce cytokines?
Helper T cells and macrophages
What is the role of antibodies?
Identify and neutralize foreign particles
What is the structure of antibodies?
Two pairs of polypeptide chains forming a Y protein shape
What are the different classes of antibodies?
IgG, M, A, D, and E
What do complement proteins do?
Clear invading pathogens in the innate immune system
What are antigens?
Substances that bind to antibodies and activate the adaptive immune response
What are exogenous antigens?
Antigens that have entered from outside the body
What are endogenous antigens?
Generated from cells in the body due to metabolism or infection
What is an autoantigen?
A self protein that should not be targeted by the immune system
What is haemostasis?
The cessation of bleeding from a blood vessel
What are the three steps of haemostasis?
- Vasoconstriction
- Temporary blockage by a plug
- Blood coagulation
What are clotting factors?
Inactive zymogens that activate and catalyze reactions in coagulation
What are anticoagulants?
Substances that prevent blood clots, maintain homeostatic balance
What can cause bleeding disorders?
Failure of the coagulation process
What are transport proteins?
Proteins that carry substances like ions sugars and messenger molecules across biological membranes
What are the three types of transport proteins?
- Carrier proteins
- Protein channels
albumin
What is the function of carrier proteins?
Move substances against their gradient using energy to transfer substances across the lipid bilayer
What is the sodium-potassium pump?
A carrier protein that establishes an electrochemical gradient
What is albumin?
The most abundant protein in the blood that maintains oncotic pressure
What are enzymes?
Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions
What are the classes of enzymes based on biochemical reactions?
- Oxidoreductases
- Transferases
- Hydrolases
- Lyases
- Isomerases
- Ligases
What are biomarkers?
Enzymes used to indicate tissue destruction or pathology
What are common neurotransmitters?
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- Acetylcholine
- GABA
What are cell adhesion molecules?
Proteins that hold cells and tissues together
What are the four types of cell adhesion molecules?
- Cadherins
- Selectins
- Integrins
- Intercellular adhesion molecules
What are recognition proteins?
Glycoproteins on the cell surface that act as identity badges
What does the term CD stand for?
Cluster of differentiation
primary structure
consists of a sequence of amino acids
composition of hydrophobic/hydrophilic amino acids influence protein structure
secondary structure
first level protein folding, formation of alpha helix and a beta-sheet
tertiary structure
3D spatial arrangement of the secondary structure
consists of hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions and disulphide bonds
quaternary structure
formation of total protein complex, multiple polypeptides, held together by non covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds and van der waals forces
structural proteins
form muscle, bone, skin, connective tissue and the cytoskeleton
collagens are?
a type of structural protein that provides strength support and shape to tissues, made up of 3 polypeptide chains and a triple superhelix stabilised by hydrogen bonding
cytoskeletal proteins are?
a type of structural protein that function in cell protection, motility, cytokinesis, transport, cell division and organelle organization
3 types of cytoskeletal proteins?
microfilament, intermediate filament and microtubule
DNA associated proteins include?
histones and transcription factors
transcription factors
contain DNA binding domain and activation domain, bind promoters and enhances & promote/interfere with RNA polymerase recruitment
what are the three types of immunity proteins?
cytokines, antibodies, and complement
what are cytokines?
small proteins/peptides
produced by immune cells
regulate immunity, inflammation and haemopoiesis
what are complements?
contain over 30 proteins and are involved in the innate immune system, involve clearing invading pathogens, form a membrane attack complex and involve cell lysis
types of antigens?
exogenous, endogenous, autoantigen, tumor antigen and native antigen
what is coagulation?
blood clot formation, the process of haemostasis, the activation, adhesion and aggregation of platelets, deposition of fibrin
