General Interview Questions - Cell Biology Basics

Describe what is common and what is distinct between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure.

What is the evidence for the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?

Describe how a specific type of protein ends up a specific place within a cell.
Which processes occur within the cytoplasm? in a mitochondrion? in a lysosome? in the Golgi apparatus? in the endoplasmic reticulum? in a chloroplast? in the nucleus?
How do macromolecules move into and out of the nucleus (and why do they need to?)
 
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1. Cells are bounded by a plasma membrane, composed of lipids and proteins.
2.Within the boundary defined by the plasma membrane there is a concentrated solution of macromolecules (RNAs, proteins), macromolecular complexes (ribosomes, proteosomes) and organelles (in eukaryotes - mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, lysosomes | in plants - chloroplasts).
3.The cytoplasm is the site of protein synthesis (via ribosomes, tRNAs and mRNAs) and a wide array of basic metabolic reactions.
4.As polypeptides are synthesized, they often interact with cytoplasmic factors (chaperones) that facilitated their correct folding.
5.Chaperones can also facilitated the correct folding of proteins that become unfolded.
6. Without further information, a newly synthesized polypeptide will end up in the cytoplasm. In most cases, specific 'targeting' sequences are used to direct a polypeptide other cellular targets (for example the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum).
7. Without further information, a newly synthesized polypeptide will end up in the cytoplasm. In most cases, specific 'targeting' sequences are used to direct a polypeptide other cellular targets (for example the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum).
8. Aberrantly folded polypeptides are degraded by specific proteolytic complexes, for example proteosomes.
9. Controlling the life time of an RNA or polypeptide is an important regulatory mechanism. polypeptides. Specific signaling within RNAs and polypeptides are used to target these macromolecules for degradation.
10. Whether a macromolecule is stable or degraded can be regulated, as can its location within a cell.
11. Proteins that are secreted by the cell are first targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum.
12. Cells internalize extracellular macromolecules through the process of endocytosis.
13. Lysosomes are intracellular organelles that contain hydrolases which function in the degradation of extracellular macromolecules that have been endocytosed.
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