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GAMSAT C M Y CM MY CY CMY K BIOLOGYGAMSAT-prep.com GENERALISED EUKARYOTIC CELL Chapter 1 Memorise Understand Importance * Structure/function: cell/components * 1st year university level info* High level: 15% of GAMSAT Biology * Components and function: cytoskeleton * Membrane transport questions released by ACER are related to * DNA structure and function * Hyper/hypotonic solutions content in this chapter (in our estimation). * Transmission of genetic information * Saturation kinetics: graphs * Note that approximately of the * Mitosis, events of the cell cycle * Unique features of eukaryotes 75% questions in GAMSAT Biology are related * Basics: Cell junctions, microscopy to just 7 chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, and 15. Introduction Cells are the basic organisational unit of living organisms. They are contained by a plasma membrane and/or cell wall. Eukaryotic cells (eu = true; karyote refers to nucleus) are cells with a true nucleus found in all multicel- lular and nonbacterial unicellular organisms including animal, fungal and plant cells. The nucleus contains ge- netic information, DNA, which can divide into 2 cells by mitosis. Get ready to waste some time! Glad to have your attention! Our experience is that most students ‘overstudy’ Biol- ogy and underperform in Biology when they see the types of questions that are asked on the GAMSAT. Please do not get trapped in details. We’ll guide you as much as we can but in the end, it’s up to you: colour-coded table of contents, yellow highlighter, underline, foundational and GAMSAT-level practice questions at the end of the chapter, etc. For now, enjoy the story that you are expected to be exposed to for the GAMSAT, but generally the content will likely be more helpful to you in medical school. Multimedia Resources at GAMSAT-Prep.com Open Discussion Boards Foundational Online Videos Flashcards Special Guest THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES BIO-31 1.1 Plasma Membrane: Structure and Functions The plasma membrane is a semiperme- able barrier that defines the outer perimeter hydrophilic of the cell. It is composed of lipids (fats) and protein. The membrane is dynamic, selective, active, and fluid. It contains phospholipids phospholipid which are amphipathic molecules. They are hydrophobic amphipathic because their tail end contains fatty acids which are insoluble in water (hydro- phobic), the opposite end contains a charged extrinsic phosphate head which is soluble in water protein High-level ImportanceHigh-level (hydrophilic). The plasma membrane con- tains two layers or “leaflets” of phospholipids thus it is called a bilipid layer. Unlike eukary- otic membranes, prokaryotic membranes do not contain steroids such as cholesterol. The Fluid Mosaic Model tells us that the hydrophilic heads project to the outside and intrinsic the hydrophobic tails project towards the inside protein of the membrane. Further, these phospholipids are fluid - thus they move freely from place to place in the membrane. Fluidity of the membrane bilipid increases with increased temperature and with layer decreased saturation of fatty acyl tails. Fluidity of the membrane decreases with decreased temperature, increased saturation of fatty acyl tails and increase in the membrane’s cholesterol content. The structures of these and other biological molecules were discussed in Organic Chemistry Chapter 12. plasma Glycolipids are limited to the extracel- membrane lular aspect of the membrane or outer leaf- let. The carbohydrate portion of glycolipids extends from the outer leaflet into the extra- cellular space and forms part of the glycoca- lyx. “Glycocalyx” is the sugar coat on the outer Figure IV.A.1.1: Structure of the plasma membrane. surface of the outer leaflet of plasma mem- Note that: hydro = water, phobic = fearing, philic = loving brane. It consists of oligosaccharide linked to BIO-32 CHAPTER 1: GENERALISED EUKARYOTIC CELL GAMSAT MASTERS SERIES protein or lipids of the plasma membrane. The peripheral) or may be found spanning the glycocalyx aids in attachment of some cells, membrane (intrinsic or integral). Integral pro- facilitates cell recognition, helps bind antigen teins are dissolved in the lipid bilayer. Trans- ImportanceHigh-level and antigen-presenting cells to the cell sur- membrane proteins contain hydrophilic and face. Distributed throughout the membrane is hydrophobic amino acids and cross the entire a mosaic of proteins with limited mobility. plasma membrane. Most transmembrane proteins are glycoproteins. They usually func- Proteins can be found associated with tion as membrane receptors and transport the outside of the membrane (extrinsic or proteins. XII I XIII II XIV III IV XV V XVI VI VII XVII XVIII VIII XIX IX X XX XI XXI Figure IV.A.1.2: The generalised eukaryotic cell I endocytosis VIII cytoskeleton (further magnified) XV nuclear envelope II endocytotic vesicle IX basal body (magnified) XVI cytosol III secondary lysosome X flagellum XVII rough endoplasmic reticulum IV primary lysosome XI cilia XVIII Golgi apparatus V smooth endoplasmic reticulum XII plasma membrane XIX exocytotic vesicle VI free ribosomes XIII nucleus XX exocytosis VII mitochondrion XIV nucleolus XXI microvillus THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES BIO-33 Peripheral proteins do not extend into uncharged substances which can freely diffuse the lipid bilayer but can temporarily adhere to across the membrane (i.e. O2, CO2, urea). either side of the plasma membrane. They bond The eukaryotic plasma membrane does not to phospholipid groups or integral proteins of have pores, as pores would destroy the bar- the membrane via noncovalent interactions. rier function. On the other hand, it is relatively Common functions include regulatory protein impermeable to charged or large substances subunits of ion channels or transmembrane which may require transport proteins to cross receptors, associations with the cytoskeleton the membrane (i.e. ions, amino acids, sugars) and extracellular matrix, and as part of the or cannot cross the membrane at all (i.e. pro- intracellular second messenger system. tein hormones, intracellular enzymes). Sub- High-level ImportanceHigh-level stances which can cross the membrane may The plasma membrane is semiperme- do so by simple diffusion, carrier-mediated able. In other words, it is permeable to small transport, or by endo/exocytosis. 1.1.1 Simple Diffusion Simple diffusion is the spontaneous spreading of a substance going from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration (i.e. a concentration gradient exists). Gradients can be of a chemical or electrical nature. A chemical gradient arises as a result of an unequal distribution of molecules and is often called a concentration gradient. In a chemical (or concentration) gradient, there is a higher concentration of molecules in one area than there is in another Figure IV.A.1.2.1a: Isotonic Solution. The fluid bathing the cell (i.e. red blood cell or RBC in area, and molecules tend to diffuse from this case; see BIO 7.5) contains the same concentra- areas of high concentration to areas of lower tion of solute as the cell’s inside or cytoplasm. When a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, the water diffuses concentration. into and out of the cell at the same rate. An electrical gradient arises as a result of an unequal distribution of charge. the concentration of all molecules in the area). In an electrical gradient, there is a higher Molecules tend to move from areas of higher concentration of charged molecules in one concentration of charge to areas of lower area than in another (this is independent of concentration of charge. BIO-34 CHAPTER 1: GENERALISED EUKARYOTIC CELL GAMSAT MASTERS SERIES High-level ImportanceHigh-level Hypotonic Solution. Figure IV.A.1.2.1b: Hypertonic Solution. Figure IV.A.1.2.1c: Here the surrounding fluid has a low concentration of Here the fluid bathing the RBC contains a high concen- solute relative to the cell’s cytoplasm. When a cell is tration of solute relative to the cell’s cytoplasm. When a placed in a hypotonic solution, the water diffuses into cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the water diffuses the cell, causing the cell to swell and possibly rupture out of the cell, causing the cell to shrivel (crenation). (lyse). Osmosis is the diffusion of water across ute on both sides of the membrane is equal), a semipermeable membrane moving from an would have an osmotic pressure of zero. area of higher water concentration (i.e. lower solute concentration = hypotonic) to an area {Memory guide: notice that the “O” in of lower water concentration (i.e. higher solute hyp-O-tonic looks like a swollen cell. The O is concentration = hypertonic). The hydrostatic also a circle which makes you think of the word pressure needed to oppose the movement of “around.” So IF the environment is hypOtonic water is called the osmotic pressure. Thus, an AROUND the cell, then fluid rushes in and the isotonic solution (i.e. the concentration of sol- cell swells like the letter O}. 1.1.2 Carrier-mediated Transport Amino acids, sugars and other solutes (i) facilitated transport where the carrier need to reversibly bind to proteins (carriers) in helps a solute diffuse across a membrane the membrane in order to get across. Because it could not otherwise penetrate. Facili- there are a limited amount of carriers, if the tated diffusion occurs via ion channels or concentration of solute is too high, the carriers carrier proteins and transport molecules would be saturated, thus the rate of crossing down a concentration of electrochemical the membrane would level off (= saturation gradient. Ions and large molecules are kinetics). therefore able to cross the membrane that would otherwise be impermeable to them. The two carrier-mediated transport sys- ii) active transport where energy (i.e. ATP) tems are: is used to transport solutes against their THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES BIO-35 t t ate of Transpor ate of Transpor R R Concentration gradient Concentration gradient Simple Diffusion: the greater the concentration gradi- Carrier-mediated Transport: increasing the concentra- ent, the greater the rate of transport across the plasma tion gradient increases the rate of transport up to a High-level ImportanceHigh-level membrane.