Module 1 - Organelles/Cell Machinery Flashcards
(106 cards)
Proteins
cells functioning units, encoded by DNA translated from mRNA, structure determines function – structural, sensors, transporters, communication, signalling
Oligomers
proteins composed of more than one polypeptide chain
Transcription
in the nucleus, DNA ––> mRNA, catalysed by RNA polymerase
RNA splicing
Before RNA leaves the nucleus (during or after transcription, non coding introns are removed, exons are joined to form transcript, 5’ cap and 3’ polydenylation
Introns
Non coding sequences – removed in splicing
Exons
Coding sequence – joined in splicing to form transcript
Translation
In ribosome in cytoplasm: mRNA ––> amino acids (codons+anticodons) ––> polypeptide ––> protein,
N–terminus
beginning of a protein, the end of a polypeptide or protein that has a free amine group (–NH^2)
C–terminus
end of a protein, the end of a polypeptide or protein that has a free carboxyl group (–COOH)
Anterograde
secretory pathway, away from the cell body, exocytosis (COP II vesicle protein)
Retrograde
Uptake, endocytosis, moving backwards (COP I vesicle protein)
Protein turnover
the continual renewal or replacement of proteins, cells are not stable!!
Primary structure
sequence of amino acids, determines proteins shape and structure
Secondary structure
alpha helix or beta pleated sheet.
Structural motifs
combinations of secondary strucutres – ring finger, zinc finger
Tertiary structure
three dimensional fully folded shape of a protein, a single polypeptide chain backbone with one or more secondary structures
Quaternary structure
results of two or more proteins interacting
Dimerization
process of forming a macromolecular complex from two protein monomers
Oligomerization
process of forming a macromolecular complex from multiple protein monomer subunits
Dimer
macromolecular complex made up of two protein subunits
Macromolecular complexes
nanomachines comprising of multiple different protein subunits, built by subcomplexes around a core subunit, modular and flexible, more diverse/complex function than proteins + domains
Domains
distinct regions of tertiary protein structure – eg. globular, fibrous, transmembrane – larger than structural motifs, functional
Daltons (Da)
units to measure mass at molecular scale, proteins ––> kiloDaltons (kDa), protein complexes ––> megadaltons (MDA)
Svedberg (S)
units to measure size/shape, bigger molecule = greater svedberg unit, non standard and non linear