Cell Org II Flashcards
5 components of cell nucleus
- Nuclear envelope (NE)
- Nuclear lamina (NL)
- Nuclear Pore Complexes (NPCs)
- Nucleolus
- Nucleoplasm
Describe the NE
- Inner nuclear membrane
- Faces the nucleoplasm
- In contact with the nuclear lamina
- functions as a scaffold stabilizing the nuclear envelope
- Outher nuclear membrane
- Faces the cytoplasm
- Continuous with ER
- Cytoplasmic surface contains ribosomes (rER)
Describe the nuclear lamina
- Nuclear lamina
- Thin, sheet like meshwork beneath the inner nuclear membrane
- Scaffold for nuclear envelope, chromatin and nuclear pores
Describe the nuclear pore complex (NPC)
- Spans the inner and outer nuclear membranes (80-100nm in diameter)
- 2000-3000 NPCs in a typical nuclear envelope
- Allows transport of molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm
- 9nm is the threshold between free/active transport
describe the Nucleolus (the 3 zones)
- Site of ribosome production
- Fibrillary center
- DNA loops of 5 chromosomes
- Contains rRNA genes
- Fibrillar material
- Transcription of rRNA genes
- Granular material
- Initial ribosomal assembly
- Fibrillary center
describe chromatin (2 types)
- Chromosomes in various degrees of uncoiling
- Packaged into nucleosomes
- Complex of DNA and proteins called histones
- 2 Types
- Euchromatin (EC)
- Lightly staining
- Less condensed chromatin, which makes it more transcriptionally active
- Heterochromatin (HC)
- Densely staining
- Highly condensed (HC) chromatin, which makes it less transcriptionally active
- Euchromatin (EC)
describe the nucleosome
- It is the fundamental structural unit of chromatin
- Macromolecular complex, like beads on a string
- Found in both EC and HC
describe where ribosomes are made and what they are
- They are made in the nucleolus and leave the nucleus and enter the cytoplasm
- Consists of 2 ribosomal RNA subunits and associated proteins
- Sites of protein synthesis (translation)
describe the 2 types of ribosomes
- Membrane-bound
- Attached to cytoplasmic surface of the ER
- Synthesize proteins that are being translocated into the ER lumen
- Produce
- Lysosomal proteins
- Secereted proteins
- PM proteins
- Free ribosomes
- Unattached to any membrane
- synthesize all other proteins
- nuclear proteins
- mitochondrial proteins
- cytosolic proteins
- peroxisomal proteins
describe the structure of the ER
- Interconnected network of branching tubules and flattened sacs distributed throughout the cytoplasm
- At certain sites, the ER membrane is continuous with the other NE membrane
describe the smooth ER
- Smooth ER: functions in the synthesis of lipids and detox
- Region of the ER that lacks bound ribosomes
- Abundant in cells specialized in lipid metabolism
- This makes it well developed in cells that synthesize and secrete steroids
- Plays a major role in detox
- Also functions to sequester calcium in muscle cells/sarcoplasmic reticulum
describe the rough ER
- Rough ER functions in the synthesis of proteins destined for PM, lysosomes or secretion
- Only mRNA molecules with an ER signal sequence bind to rER membranes
- Abundant in cells specialized in protein synthesis
- Secretory cells producing proteins for extracellular export
describe structure and location of GA
- Complex of flattened, membrane-enclosed cisternae
- Usually located next to the nucleus and centrosome
- Location is microtubule dependent
describe the 2 faces of the GA
- Cis face
- Entry
- Cis Golgi Network (CGN)
- Trans face
- Exit
- Trans Golgi Network (TGN)
which cells would the GA be most developed?
- Secretory cells
- Plasma cells, which secrete antibodies
- Pancreatic acinar cells, which secrete digestive enzymes
describe the differences between COP I and COP II
- COP-I coated vesicles
- Retrograde transport
- CGN back to rER
- COP-II coated vesicles
- Anterograde transport
- Carry newly synthesized proteins from rER to CGN
describe the 3 functions of the GA
- Post-translational modification
- Glycolysation
- Sulfation
- Phosphorylation
- Proteolysis
- Sorting
- Packaging
describe the different types of vesicular trafficking in the GA
- Constitutive
- Constantly prouducing vesicles for secretion
- Fibroblasts secreting ECM components
- Constantly prouducing vesicles for secretion
- Regulated secretory pathway
- Vesicles are stored and secreted with stimulus
- Neurons, beta cells (endocrine) and acinar cells (exocrine) of pancreas
- Vesicles are stored and secreted with stimulus
- Lysosomal pathway
- Precursor lysosomal hydrolases are covalently modified by the addition of M6P in the GA
- the TGN recognizes this for transport to lysosomes
describe the structure and function of lysosomes
- Digestive organelles
- Function in the controlled intracellular digestion of macromolecules
- Membrane-enclosed compartments filled with ~40 types of hydrolytic enzymes
- Require an acidic environment, around pH 4.7
How many lysosomal storage diseases are there and what are the results?
- 1:7000 live births
- Results
- Accumulation of undigested products
- Disruption of normal cell function
- Cell death
describe Tay-Sachs (gene location, results)
- First LSD
- Deficiency of HEXA
- Gene location: chromosome 15q24.1
- Results in the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside
- Death of neurson in the brain and spinal cord
what are the pathways that lead to digestion by lysosomes?
- Phagocytosis
- Endocytosis
- Autohphagy (self-eating): major cellular pathway to degrade proteins and organelles
- intracellular membrane surrounds the organelle and cytoplasm
- autophagosome formed (double membraned vacuole)
- fusion of autophagosome with lysosome
- contents are degraded, recycled and reused
describe proteasomes and how they function
- Proteasomes are large protein complexes involved in protein degradation
- ATP-dependent
- Destroys proteins without involving lysosomes
how do proteasomes destroy proteins and which do they target?
- Polyubiquitination
- Proteins targeted for destruction are covalently tagged with the ubiquitin protein
- Destruction of abnormal proteins and normal short-lived regulatory proteins
- Ex: cyclins, transcription factors, tumor suppresors
- Proteasome inhibitors used as anti-cancer agents
- proteasome inhibition may prevent degradation of pro-apoptotic factors such as the p53 protein