Week 9-10 Flashcards
Cell division -
the reproduction of cells
Role of cell division in unicellular organisms:
Reproduction by cell division (e.g. binary fission)
Role of cell division in multicellular organisms (3):
- Growth
- Development from a fertilized cell
- Repair of damaged tissues
Mitosis (used for)
- production of somatic cells (diploid cells)
- conserves the chromosome number of the cells => production of 2 genetically identical cells that are also genetically identical to the parental cell
Meiosis
- production of gametes (haploid cells)
- reduces the chromosome number in half => production of gametes in the gonads
=> Fertilization: A male and female gamete (haploid cells) fuse producing a zygote with a complete set of chromosomes (diploid)
What is cancer?
abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread)
Cell cycle -
functional process that a cell goes through until it is divided in 2 identical daughter cells
Phases (stages) of the cell cycle (4):
INTERPHASE:
1. G1 (gap 1): preparation of the cell for DNA replication
2. S phase (synthesis): DNA replication
3. G2 (gap 2): preparation for cell division
M PHASE:
4. M phase (mitotic phase: prophase, (prometaphase), metaphase, anaphase, telophase): cell division (mitosis)
+ Cytokinesis
G0 phase
Resting phase: non-dividing cells are resting at this phase
Differentiated cells enter from G0 to G1 after the action of growth factors
Cells exit G1 and enter G0 (G1 → G0) in order to differentiate
Cell cycle control (2):
- Εxtracellular signals (e.g. presence of growth factors)
- Intracellular signals (e.g. cell size)
Cell types according to their cell division potential (3):
- Post-mitotic cells
- Cells that divide upon appropriate stimulation (signal)
- Cells with high mitotic activity
Post-mitotic cells:
terminally differentiated cells which have lost their ability to replicate => permanently arrested at G0 phase
Example: neural cells, cardiac muscle cells, red blood cells
Cells that divide upon appropriate stimulation (signal):
most of the cells in our body only divide upon stimulation by growth factors or other signal
lymphocytes upon antigenic presentation
Cells with high mitotic activity:
opposite of post-mitotic cells
germ cells, stem cells, epithelial cells
Before cell division (during interphase):
- Cell components have to replicate (organelles, membranes, proteins)
- Chromosomes need to replicate in order for daughter cells to have the same genome as the parental cell
Why is it important f/ genetic material to be replicated in order for daughter cells to have the same genome as the parental cell?
This ensures their survival
Interphase can be divided into 3 sub-phases:
• G1 phase: preparation for DNA replication
- Protein synthesis, organelle production
- Duration: 5-6 h
• S phase: DNA synthesis (replication)
- Duration: 10-12 h
• G2 phase: preparation for cell division (mitosis)
- Protein synthesis, organelle production
- Duration: 4-6 h
Typical cell cycle in eukaryotic cells has duration of
20-24 h
Genome -
the complete set of genetic information (DNA) of a cell (all the genes)
DNA molecules of a cell are packaged
into chromosomes
Eukaryotic chromosomes consist of:
chromatin - a complex of DNA and proteins (histones)
Each chromosome carries how many genes?
a few hundred to a few thousand genes
2 types of cells according to their chromosomal content in humans:
Somatic cells: diploid cells (2n, n=23 chromosomes)
- have 2 sets of 23 chromosomes = 46 total => 23 chromosome pairs
- each homologous chromosome pair has 1 paternal and 1 maternal chromosome
Gametes (reproductive cells): haploid cells (n, n=23 chromosomes)
– have one set of chromosomes = 23 total
– Have only 1 chromosome (either paternal or maternal) from each homologous chromosome pair
Homologous chromosomes -
carry the same genes at the same positions
Human Karyotype -
ordered display of chromosome pairs
Distribution of Chromosomes During Cell Cycle: Interphase
- chromosomes are not condensed
- G1: each chromosome consists of one chromatid (not replicated yet) (2n - diploid cells = 46 chromosomes)
- S: DNA is replicated (process of acquiring sister chromatids)
- G2: each duplicated chromosome has 2 sister chromatids (4n - tetraploid cells = 92 chromosomes)
Distribution of Chromosomes During Cell Cycle: Mitosis (cell division)
- the chromosomes condense => can be seen with a light microscope
- sister chromatids separate => each future daughter cell receives one chromatid
The Mitotic phase (M phase) consists of:
– Mitosis: division of the nucleus
– Cytokinesis: division of the cytoplasm
Mitosis consists of 5 phases:
- Prophase
- Prometaphase
- Metaphase
- Αnaphase
- Τelophase
characteristic event that separates prophase and prometaphase -
degradation of nuclear envelope => mitotic spindle microtubules can invade nuclear region => bind to the chromosomes
Metaphase distinct event:
formation of metaphase plate = arrangement of duplicated chromosomes in the middle of the cells (equal distance from each pole)
Anaphase distinct event:
two sets of chromosomes start moving towards the diff pole
Telophase distinct events:
- reformation of nuclear envelope
- decondensation of chromosomes
Cytokinesis in animal cells:
cleavage furrow formation: membrane fuses to create 2 future daughter cells
Cytokinesis in plant cells:
cell plate formation
Centrosome replication happens when?
during S phase
3 types of mitotic spindle microtubules
- Αstral microtubules: radial (star-like) structure around the centrosome; fn: positioning of the spindle in the cell
- Kinetochore (chromosomal) microtubules: join the centrosome with the kinetochores on the centromeres of the chromosomes; fn: chromosomal movement
- Polar microtubules: start from the centrosome but do not attach to the chromosomes, interact with other polar microtubules projecting from the other pole; fn: maintain the integrity of the spindle
The mitotic spindle -
an apparatus of microtubules that controls chromosome movement during mitosis
arises from centrosomes (animal cells, MTOC made by 2 centrioles) or other MTOC (plant cells since they lack centrioles at right angle to each other)
includes spindle microtubules (kinetochore and polar) and astral microtubules
Centrioles through cycles:
G1 phase - 1 centrosome consisting of 2 centrioles
S phase - 2 centrosomes, 2 centrioles each
mitosis - 1 centrosome consisting of 2 centrioles per each daughter cell
Prophase 4 key events:
- chromosomal condensation
- centrosomes move towards the opposite poles of the cell
- mitotic spindle formation
- nuclear envelope and organelle degradation
Prometaphase key events (2):
- Chromosomes attach to the spindle microtubules (b/c the nuclear envelope is degraded completely)
- Chromosomes move towards the cell center (metaphase plate)
Each chromosome is connected to both poles - how?
How are chromatids oriented?
each chromosome is duplicated => consists of 2 chromatids => microtubule from one centrosome at one pole is connected to kinetochore of one centromere AND microtubule from the other centrosome at the other pole is connected to kinetochore of the other centromere => one chromatid has orientation towards one pole and the other chromatid towards the other pole
how do chromosomes move towards the cell center
(metaphase plate)?
By polymerisation/depolymerisation of kinetochore microtubules (overall polymerisation from the side that is closer to the one pole and overall depolymerization from the side that is further away from the other pole)
Key event of metaphase:
Chromosomes align in the equatorial plane
(metaphase plate)
What happens if the chromosomes are not aligned correctly?
Cell cycle arrest signal
2 key events of anaphase:
- sister chromatids separation due to inactivation of centromere proteins holding the two chromatids together
- sister chromatids move along the kinetochore microtubules towards opposite ends of the cell
Anaphase is divided into:
Anaphase A
Anaphase B
What happens during the Αnaphase Α?
depolymerisation of microtubules: they need to become shorter to bring chromosomes to the opposite sides of the pole => tubulin depolymerisation => chromosomes start moving toward the poles of the spindle w/ help of motor proteins
What happens during Anaphase B?
separation of the 2 poles (spindle elongation): non-kinetochore microtubules from opposite poles
overlap and push against each other elongating the cell w/ the help of motor proteins
3 key events of telophase:
Genetically identical daughter nuclei form at the opposite poles of the cell:
1. Chromosomes transferred at the opposite poles of the cell (end of anaphase/beginning of telophase)
2. Reformation of the nuclear envelope upon vesicle fusion around the chromosomes
3. Reformation of ER and Golgi apparatus