Protein Control of Cell Division Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Protein Control of Cell Division Deck (38)
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1
Q

What is the role of the cytoskeleton?

A

To give mechanical support and shape to cells.

2
Q

What are microtubules?

A

Hollow cylinders composed of the protein tubulin.

3
Q

Where do microtubules radiate from?

A

The Microtubule Organising Centre (MTOC).

4
Q

What is the role of microtubules?

A

To control the movement of membrane-bound organelles and chromosomes.

5
Q

What does the formation and breakdown of microtubules involve?

A

Polymerisation and depolymerisation of tubulin.

6
Q

What forms the spindle fibres that are active during cell division?

A

Microtubules.

7
Q

What are the phases of the cell cycle?

A

Interphase and mitotic (M) phase.

8
Q

What does mitotic phase involve?

A

Mitosis and cytokinesis.

9
Q

What does interphase involve?

A

G1 (Growth phase), S Phase (when DNA is replicated) and G2 (further growth phase).

10
Q

What are the phases of mitosis?

A

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

11
Q

What happens during prophase?

A

The DNA condenses into chromosomes each consisting of two sister chromatids. The nuclear membranes break down and spindle fibres extend from the MTOC by polymerisation and attach to chromosomes via their kinetochores in the centromere region.

12
Q

What happens during metaphase?

A

Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate (equator).

13
Q

What happens during anaphase?

A

Spindle microtubules shorten by depolymerisation, sister chromatids are separated and the chromosomes are pulled to opposite poles.

14
Q

What happens during telophase?

A

The chromosomes decondense and nuclear membranes are formed around them.

15
Q

What are checkpoints?

A

Mechanisms within the cell that assess the condition of the cell during the cell cycle and halt progression to the next stage unless certain requirements are met.

16
Q

When do cyclin proteins accumulate?

A

During cell growth.

17
Q

What are cyclin proteins involved in?

A

Regulation of the cell cycle.

18
Q

What activated cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)?

A

The binding of cyclin.

19
Q

What is the role of active cyclin-dependent kinases?

A

To phosphorylate proteins that regulate progression through the cell cycle. If sufficient phosphorylation occurs progression occurs.

20
Q

When does the G1 checkpoint occur?

A

Towards the end of G1.

21
Q

How do retinoblastoma (Rb) act as a tumour suppression?

A

By inhibiting transcription of genes that code for proteins needed for DNA replication.

22
Q

What inhibits the retinoblastoma?

A

Phosphorylation by G1 cyclin-CDK.

23
Q

What is assessed at the G2 checkpoint?

A

The success of DNA replication and any damage to the DNA.

24
Q

What does DNA damage trigger?

A

The activation of several proteins such as p53 that can stimulate DNA repair, arrest the cell cycle or cause cell death.

25
Q

What does the metaphase checkpoint control?

A

Progression from metaphase to anaphase.

26
Q

What happens at the metaphase checkpoint?

A

Progression is halted until the chromosomes are aligned correctly at the metaphase plate and attached to the spindle fibres.

27
Q

What may an uncontrolled reduction in the rate of the cell cycle result in?

A

Degenerative disease.

28
Q

What may an uncontrolled increase in the rate of the cell cycle result in?

A

Tumour formation.

29
Q

What is a proto-oncogene?

A

A normal cell, usually involved in cell growth or division, that can mutate to form a tumour promoting oncogene.

30
Q

What is apoptosis?

A

Programmed cell death that can be triggered by internal or external death signals.

31
Q

What is an example of an external death signal?

A

The production of death signal molecules from lymphocytes.

32
Q

What is an example of an internal death signal?

A

DNA damage.

33
Q

How do external death signals trigger apoptosis?

A

By binding to surface receptor proteins and triggering a protein cascade within the cytoplasm.

34
Q

What does an internal death signal resulting from DNA damage cause?

A

Activation of p53 tumour suppressor protein.

35
Q

What are caspases?

A

Types of protease enzyme.

36
Q

What do both types of signal result in?

A

Activation of caspases that cause the destruction of the cell.

37
Q

Why is apoptosis essential during the development of an organism?

A

As it removes cells no longer required as development progresses or during metamorphosis.

38
Q

When else may cells initiate apoptosis?

A

In the absence of growth factors.