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BIOSCI107 > Parts of the Cell > Flashcards

Parts of the Cell Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the cell theory?

A
  • All living organisms are composed of one or more cells
  • The cell is the basic unit of structure and organisation
    All cells are only from pre-existing cels
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2
Q

What are 3 similarities between cells? (universally)

A
  • DNA as the heritable material, RNA as an intermediary or messenger and proteins as the workers
  • Major cellular organelles - functions and arrangements within the cell
  • ATP as an energy source
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3
Q

What do prokaryote cells and eukaryote cells have in common?

A

Both have:

  • Plasma membrane
  • Cytosol
  • DNA and RNA
  • Protein
  • Ribosomes
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4
Q

What are eukaryotes?

A

Organisms whos cells have a nucleus enclosed with membranes. They are large

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5
Q

What are prokarytoes?

A

Organisms which have no membrane bound organelles (no nucleus, the DNA just floats around) and are much smaller than eukaryotes

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6
Q

What is the cytoplasm?

A

Everything inside the plasma membrane including all the organelles, BUT NOT including the nucleus

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7
Q

What is the fluid portion of the cytoplasm and what is it composed of?

A

Cytosol. it is compose of water and dissolved and suspended substances (e.g ions, ATP, proteins and lipids)

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8
Q

What major organelles are in the endomembrane system ? (note: there are 5)

A
  • Nucleus
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum (smooth and rough)
  • Golgi apparatus
  • Lysosomes
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9
Q

What do organelles in the endomembrane do?

A

They work together to package, label and ship molecules

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10
Q

What 2 organelles are NOT apart of the endomembrane system?

A

Mitochondria and ribosomes

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11
Q

What is the plasma membrane?

A

A selectively permeable barrier controlling the passage of substances in and out of the cell

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12
Q

What is the plasma membrane composed of?

A
  • A double layer of phospholipids with embedded proteins
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13
Q

Are fats hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

A

Hydrophobic. These provide the barrier to water in the membrane

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14
Q

What is a phospholipid, its components and how is it arranged?

A

A lipid containing a phosphate group in its molecule. It consists of two hydrophobic fatty acid “tails” and a hydrophilic “head”. It is arranged as a double layer around the cytoplasm, tail to tail.

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15
Q

What is the function of plasma membrane proteins?

A

They mediate the movement of hydrophilic substances

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16
Q

What does amphipathic mean in terms of plasma membrane proteins?

A

They have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions

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17
Q

What are integral proteins?

A

Proteins that are partially or fully embedded into the membrane

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18
Q

What is an example of a integral protein?

A

Transmembrane proteins, which are integral proteins that fully spans the entire membrane, contacting extracellular and cytoplasmic areas

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19
Q

What is a peripheral membrane protein?

A

Proteins that are associated with the membrane, but are not actually embedded in it

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20
Q

What do plasma membrane proteins do? (3 things)

A

Transport, enzymatic activity and signal transduction

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21
Q

What is transport in terms of plasma membrane function?

A

Channels or transporters that may be general or selective, gated or not

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22
Q

What is enzymatic activity in terms of plasma membrane function?

A

Carry out chemical reaction, may or may not be part of a team of enzymes

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23
Q

What is signal transduction in terms of plasma membrane function?

A

External signalling molecule causing transduction of information to the inside of a cell

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24
Q

What are the 3 extra jobs for plasma membrane proteins?

A
  • Cell-cell recognition
  • Intercellular joining
  • Attachement to cytoskeleton and ECM
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25
What is cell-cell recognition?
Use of GAGS as molecular signals of the extracellular side of the cell
26
What is intercellular joining?
Cell junctions (gap, tight etc)
27
What is the nucleus composed of?
- It is enclosed by a double lipid bilayer called the nuclear envelope, which is continious with the RER. - Entry and exit through nuclear pores
28
What occurs in the nucleolus?
- rRNA production | - Assembly of small/large subunits of ribosomes
29
What are 4 functions of the nucleus?
- To house/protect DNA in eukaryotic cells - Make RNA and assemble ribosomes - Pores regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell - Molecule segregation to allow temporal/spatial control of cell function
30
How does DNA form nucleosomes?
DNA is wrapped 2x around 8 histones to form nucleosomes
31
Collectively, what are nucleosomes?
Chromatin
32
What does DNA do when the cell is preparing for division?
It condenses further to chromatin fibre, further loops and stacks as chromosomes
33
DNA is present as what in chromatin fibres?
Chromatin
34
What is the rule of thumb with human chromosomes?(think how we receive our chromosomes)
Humans are diploid (2N = 46). We have 23 pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent. 22 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes
35
3 billion base pairs in each cell fit into a space just:
6 microns across
36
What are ribosomes?
Two subunits, small and large, made of rRNA in complex with many proteins
37
Where do the subunits assemble and where do they leave through?
Assembled in the nucleolus, leave through nuclear pores
38
What is the function of ribosomes?
Protein prodcution (translation)
39
What two places are ribosomes found in the cells and what are they doing there?
- Free in the cytoplasm: making proteins to be used in cytosol (non endomembrane destinations) - Attached to the RER - making non-cytosolic proteins/endomembrane
40
What is the endoplasmic reticulum and what are the two types called?
An extensive network of tubes and tubules, stretching out from the nuclear membrane. Two types: Rough ER and smooth ER
41
What is the rough ER?
A series of connected flattened sacs, part of a continuous membrane organelle in the cytoplasm dotted with attached ribosomes
42
Major function in the RER is the production of:
- Secreted proteins - Membrane proteins - Organelle proteins
43
The RER forms what:
The protein to from transport vesicles destined for the Golgi
44
What is the Smooth ER?:
It extends from the rough ER and lacks ribosomes, so doesn't make proteins
45
What are two major functions of the SER?
- Acts as a housing unit for proteins and enzymes | - Synthesises lipids, including steroids and phospholipids.
46
What is something important to remember about the functions of smooth ER?
The functions vary by cell/tissue type
47
What is an example of the function of the SER in an organ?
The liver houses enzymes for detoxification and for glucose release
48
What is the Golgi apparatus?
A "warehouse" made up of 3-20 flattened membranous sacs called cisternae, stacked on top of each-other
49
What are the functions of the Golgi apparatus?
Modify, sort, package and transport proteins recieved from the rough ER using enzymes in each cisternae
50
What is formed in the Golgi apparatus? (3 things)
- Secretory of vesicles (proteins for exocytosis) - Membrane vesicles (PM molecules) - Transport vesicles (molecules to lysosome)
51
What cells have extensive Golgi complexes?
Secretory cells (e.g goblet cells which secrete mucous)
52
What are the 4 steps of Golgi apparatus to destination?
Each sac (cisternae) contains enzymes of different functions - Proteins move cis to trans from sac to sac - Mature at the exit cisternae - Travel to destination - Modifications occur within each sac (formation of glycoproteins, glycolipids and lipoproteins
53
What are lysosomes?
Vesicles formed from Golgi membrane that contain powerful digestive enzymes
54
How is acidic pH maintained in the lysosomes?
Membrane proteins pump H+ in
55
The main functions of lysosomes is the digestion of: (3 things)
- Digestion of substances that enter a cell - Digestion of cell components e.g organelles (autophagy) - Digestion of entire cells (autolysis)
56
When the lysosomes have helped with the digestion of cells, components and substances etc, amino acids and lipids are:
Recycled
57
What could the failure of a single lysosome cause?
Severe disease
58
What is Gaucher metabolic disorder?
Occurs when a particular lipid (glucocerebroside) is poorly degraded and results in a severe phenotype in humans. The sheep model can help better understand this
59
What is the main function of the mitochondria?
To generate ATP through cellular respiration
60
What are mitochondria made up of? (3 things)
- Outer mitochondrial membrane - Inner mitochondrial membrane, with folds called cristae - Fluid filled interior cavity called the mitochondrial matrix
61
What is the cause of a large number of mitochondria being present?
The more energy a cell requires, the more ATP it must make hence it needs more mitochondria
62
Is the mitochondria apart of the endomembrane system?
No
63
The transfer of a phosphate to another molecule provides:
Energy
64
What is the cytoskeleton?
The structural support system of the cell
65
What is the function of fibres and filaments in the cell?
They help maintain the size, shape and integrity of the cell
66
What are the three types of fibres in the cytoskeleton?
- Microfilaments - Intermediate filaments - Microtubules
67
Where are actin molecules found in the cell? And how are they assembled?
Found around the periphery and lining of the interior of the cell, assembled in two long chains twisted around each-other
68
What is the function of actin?
To bear tension and weight by anchoring the cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane proteins and to promote amoeboid mobility if required (e.g macrophage)
69
Why are microfilaments regarded as dynamic?
Because they can be assembled and disassembled as required
70
What is the diameter of microfilaments in the cytoskeleton?
7nm
71
What is the intermediate filament in the cytoskeleton and what is its diameter? Where is it found?
Keratin, 8-12 nm and found in the cytoplasm
72
What is the function of intermediate filaments in the cytoskeleton?
To bear tension and weight throughout the cell e.g during cell anchoring. Also acts as a scaffold for cellular organelles e.g the nucleus
73
What is the most permanent type of filament of the cytoskeleton?
Intermediate filaments
74
What is the shape of microtubules, what is their diameter/shape and where are they found?
- Tubular shape/structure - Diameter is 25nm - Extends from centriole into the cytoplasm/nucleus
75
What are microtubules comprised of?
Tubulin dimers (alpha and beta), coiled, to form a tube
76
Why are microtubules considered dynamic?
Because they can be assembled/dissasembled
77
What are the functions of microtubules in the cytoskeleton? (4 things)
- Support cell shape and size - Guide for movement of organelles e.g vesicles from Golgi to membrane - Chromosome organisation (cell division) - Support and movement of cilia/flagella

BIOSCI107 (5 decks)

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