Introduction to Biology

September 17th 2004

Nancy Van Driessche (email: nv993804@bcm.tmc.edu)
Overview of What is a cell?: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/genetics_cell.html

What is a cell?

structural and functional units of all living organisms unicellular and multicellular organisms

bacteria vs. human

specialized functions

nutrients

energy source
reproduce

Eukaryote vs. Prokaryote

eg. fungi eg. bacteria animals plants unicellular organisms: yeast, Dictyostelium etc.

Biggest differences: Prokaryotes lack a nuclear membrane! Prokaryotes don't have intracellular organelles! Prokaryotes about 10X size of Eukaryotes.

Plasma membrane: a cell's protective coat

outside the cell double layer of lipids proteins inside the cell Several functions of membrane proteins:

outside the cell

inside the cell
inport and export cross-linking of of molecules membrane proteins amplification of convertion of product extracellular signal X into product Y

The cytoskeleton: a cell's scaffold

very complex and dynamic cell component!

organizes and maintains the cell's shape (e.g. epithelial cells of the gut)
anchors the organells in place helps during the uptake of external material (endocytosis)

involvement in cell movement

growth

The cytoskeleton: a cell's scaffold

The cytoplasm (cytosol): a cell's inner space

Plasma membrane

Cytoskeleton cytosol

large fluid-filled space (mostly water + proteins that control most of th cell metabolisms): glycolysis, transcription factors, intracellular receptors etc.

Organelles

Nucleus

Protein production machine: the ribosomes

Mitochondria and Chloroplasts

Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Golgi apparatus

Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

Adapted and/or specialized for carrying out one or more vital functions. Reminder! Are only found in eukaryotes.

Nucleus: a cell's center

Structure of the nucleus: Function of the nucleus: - Stores the chromosomes (genetic material)
Note: 2 kinds of genetic material: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ribonucleic acid (RNA)

- production of ribosomes in nucleolus - protection of DNA from damaging molecules of molecules that interfere with its processing - DNA replication and synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA)

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/nucleus.html

Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Ribosomes: protein production machine

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/ribosome.htm

Endoplasmic Reticulum
ER is a continuation of the outer nuclear membrane. ER has smooth regions (responsible for lipid and membrane protein modifications) and rough regions (associated with ribosomes responsible for the synthesis of other proteins)

source: http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/er.htm

Golgi apparatus
Function: - modification of lipids and proteins - storage and packaging of materials that will be exported from the cell.

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/golgi.htm

Mitochondria

Contain their own genome (distinct from nuclear genome) Self-replicating Critical role in generation of energy (called ATP): Glycolysis (without oxygen use) Krebs cycle (in presence of oxygen)

Lysosomes

Rich in digestive enzymes (that work at low pH) Digest fforeing bacteria that invade a cell Recycling of membrane components Repair damage to plasma membrane

Peroxisomes

Get rid of toxic substances

Many in the liver
lysosome

Making new Cells and Cell types

(1) Making New Cells
Unicellular organisms: Asexual reproduction: replication of genetic material and splitting 1 cell Into 2 identical cells Multicellular organisms: Mitosis to produce for example new skin cells and liver cells. Meiosis or sexual reproduction to create a whole new organism (gametes)

Human chromosomes

Overview of the major events in mitosis

Interphase

prophase

metaphase

anaphase

telophase

In case of DNA damage or failure of critical processes

P53 stimulates induction of inhibitory proteins that halt DNA replication Defects in p53 are associated with a variety of cancers

DNA damage repair or initiation of programmed cell death (apoptosis)

Overview of the major events in meiosis

Production of gametes 2 cell divisions in sequence

Big difference between mitosis and meiosis

The Working Cell

DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis

DNA structure base pairs

adenosine thymine

cytosine guanine

Source: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/Molecular_Graphics/DNA_Structure/DNA_Tutorial.HTML

DNA The code of life

Side view:
3 end 5 end

Double stranded AT GC basepairs Right handed spiral

View down helix axis:

3 end

Source: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/Molecular_Graphics/DNA_Structure/DNA_Tutorial.HTML

DNA replication
Occurs during cell division. Requires: - Helicases (unwind DNA) - DNA polymerases (can bind single Stranded DNA and can move only In 3 to 5 direction. - DNA ligase stitches Okazaki fragments

Source: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/D/DNAReplication.html

Animation:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/dnarep/repstrands.html?blah=&step=6

Transcription: RNA synthesis

Basic structure of a protein encoding gene:

DNA

Transcription: RNA synthesis

(1) Initiation

- Involves transcription factors (TFs) and RNA polymerase - Recognition of TATA box (located ~ 20 to 30 bp of transcription initiation site)

Transcription (elongation) (2)

/antisense strand

Transcription (termination) (3)

RNA polymerase falls off

terminator

Animation:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/images/transcription/tcani.gif

DNA vs. RNA

Post-transcriptional modifications

Protein synthesis: Translation initiation

Protein synthesis: elongation (2)

Protein translation: termination (3)

Protein translation: summary

Elongation

Initiation

Termination

http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/translation/init.html

Summary