Cell Biology

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“Cell Biology Interview Questions and Answers will teach us now that The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. Some organisms, such as most bacteria, are unicellular. So learn every thing about the Cell Biology with this Cell Biology Interview Questions with Answers guide”



111 Cell Biology Questions And Answers

62⟩ How does the intensity of facilitated diffusion vary in relation to the concentration of the moved substance? What is the limiting factor?

Likewise simple diffusion facilitated diffusion is more intense when the concentration gradient of the substance increases and less intense when the gradient lessens. In facilitated diffusion however there is a limiting factor: the quantity of the permeases that facilitate the transport through the membrane. Even in a situation in which the concentration gradient of the diffusing substance increases, if there are not enough permeases to perform the transport there will be no increase in the intensity of the diffusion. This situation is called saturation of the transport proteins and it represents the point in which the maximum transport capacity of the substance across the membrane is achieved.

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63⟩ What are some examples of biological activities in which osmosis plays important role?

Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) by entrance of water, the hydric regulation in plants and the entrance of water in the xylem of vascular plants are all examples of biological phenomena caused by osmosis.

Excessive dilution of the blood plasma makes, by osmosis, the entrance of too much water in red blood cells and then the destruction of these cells (hemolysis). Osmosis also is the main process for maintenance of the flaccid, turgid or plasmolytic states of plant cells. Osmosis is one of the forces responsible for the entrance of water in plant roots since root cells are hypertonic in comparison to the soil.

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64⟩ What are differentiations of the cell membrane?

In some types of cells, the cell membrane present differentiations that are necessary for the specific functions of the cells. The main differentiations are the microvilli and the structures for reinforcement of adhesion or union between cells (cell junctions).

Microvilli are multiple external projections of the membrane resembling glove fingers. This differentiation is found in cells of tissues where it is advantageous to increase the size of the surface in contact with the exterior, for example, in the enteric (intestinal) epithelium for absorption of nutrients.

Membrane differentiations for reinforcement of adhesion between cells occur mainly in epithelial tissues where the need for coverage and impermeability requires cells to be “glued” to neighbouring cells. These differentiations can be interdigitations, desmosomes, tight junctions (zonula occludens), zonula adherens (adherens junctions) and gap junctions.

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66⟩ What is mass transportation across the cell membrane?

Mass transportation is the entrance or the exiting of substances in or from the cell engulfed by portions of membrane. The fusion of internal substance-containing membranous vesicles with the cell membrane is called exocytosis. The entrance of substances in the cell after they have been engulfed by projections of the membrane is called endocytosis.

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68⟩ What are the two main types of endocytosis?

Endocytosis is the entrance of materia in the cell engulfed by portions of the cell membrane.

Endocytosis can be classified as pinocytosis or phagocytosis. In pinocytosis small particles on the external surface of the membrane stimulate the invagination of the membrane inwards and vesicles full of that particles then detach from the membrane and enter the cytoplasm. In phagocytosis bigger particles on the external surface of the membrane induce the projection of pseudopods outwards enclosing the particles; the vesicle then detachs from the membrane and enter the cytoplasm receiving the name phagosome.

Cell Membrane Review - Image Diversity: pynocitosis phagocytosis

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69⟩ What is the wall resistance of plant cells? Does this resistance facilitate or make it difficult the entrance of water in the cell?

Wall resistance, or turgor pressure (TP), is the pressure made by the distension of the plant cell wall in opposition to the increase of the cell volume. The wall resistance works against the entrance of water in the cell, i.e., it acts forcing the exiting of water and compensating the entrance of the solvent by osmosis.

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70⟩ What is meant by suction force of the plant cell? Does the suction force facilitate or make difficult the entrance of water in the cell?

The suction force (SF) is the osmotic pressure of the plant cell vacuole, i.e., of the vacuolar internal solution.

Since the vacuolar solution is hypertonic in comparison to cytosol it attracts water then increasing the cytosol concentration. With the osmotic action of the vacuole the cytosol becomes hypertonic in relation to the exterior and more water enters the cell.

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71⟩ What does the formula DPD = SF – TP mean?

DPD is the abbreviation of diffusion pressure deficit, SF (suction force) is the vacuolar osmotic pressure and TP is the turgor pressure.

The difference between SF and TP determines whether water tends or not to enter the cell. If SF > TP, DPD > 0 and water tends to enter the cell by osmosis. If TP > SF, DPD < 0 and water cannot enter the cell by osmosis.

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72⟩ What is the formula of the DPD for withered (shrank) plant cells? How is that situation possible?

Withered plant cells are those that shrank due to loss of water by evaporation without enough replacement. In this situation the cell membrane retracts and detaches from the cell wall. The cell wall moreover expands in length to stimulate the entrance of water making TP < 0. Since DPD = SF – TP and TP is negative (< 0) its formula becomes DPD = SF + |TP|.

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73⟩ What are the values of DPD for plant cells under hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic media?

In plant cells under hypertonic medium there is loss of water for the exterior, SF > 0 (the vacuolar pressure is high because it is concentrated) and TP = 0 (there is no distension of the cell wall since the cellular volume is reduced) so DPD = SF. These cells are called plasmolysed cells, situation characterized by the retraction of the cell membrane that detach from the cell wall.

In plant cells under isotonic medium there is no increase of the internal water volume, SF > 0 and TP = 0 (since the cell wall is not distended). The cell membrane slightly touches the cell wall and in this situation the cell is called flaccid cell.

In plant cells under hypotonic medium there is tendency of water to enter, SF = TP (since the osmotic pressure is totally compensated by the distension of the cell wall) and DPD = 0. The cell that expanded itself to this point is called turgid cell.

Cell Membrane Review - Image Diversity: plasmolysed cell flaccid cell turgid cell

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74⟩ What do facilitated diffusion and active transport have in common? What are the differences between them?

Facilitated diffusion can be confused with active transport because in both processes there is participation of membrane proteins.

In active transport however the transported substance moves against its concentration gradient and with energy spending. Facilitated diffusion is a passive transport in favor of the concentration gradient and it does not require energy.

Cell Membrane Review - Image Diversity: active transport

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75⟩ How does the plant cell wall react when it is placed under hypotonic medium?

The plant cell wall (the covering of the cell external to the cell membrane) is made of cellulose, a polymer of glucose.

When the cell is put under hypotonic medium it absorbs too much water through osmosis. In that situation the cell wall pressure acts to compensate the osmotic pressure thus forbiding excessive increase of the cellular volume and the cell lysis.

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76⟩ How does the sodium-potassium pump present in the cell membrane work? What is the importance of this protein for the cell?

The sodium-potassium pump is the transport protein that maintains the concentration gradient of these ions between the intra and the extracellular spaces. This protein is phosphorylated in each pumping cycle and then it pumps three sodium ions outside the cell and puts two potassium ions inwards. The phosphorylation is made by the binding of a phosphate donated by one ATP molecule that then is converted into ADP (adenosine diphosphate).

The job of the sodium-potassium pump, also known as sodium-potassium ATPase, is fundamental to keep the characteristic negative electric charge in the intracellular side of the membrane of the resting cell and to create adequate conditions of sodium and potassium concentrations inside and outside the cell to maintain the cellular metabolism.

Cell Membrane Review - Image Diversity: sodium-potassium pump

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77⟩ Of which substance are microfilaments made? What are the properties of these elements that give motility to cells?

Microfilaments are made of actin (a protein). The contractile association of actin with myosin and other cytoplasmic proteins give to microfilaments the ability to promote cell movement.

Cytoskeleton and Cell Movement - Image Diversity: microfilaments actin and myosin intermediate filaments

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78⟩ What are cell movements? How are these movements created?

Cell movements are movements performed by cell structures, like the movements of cilia and flagella, the pseudopod movements (in amoeba, macrophages, etc.), the cyclosis of the cytoplasm and the sarcomere contraction in muscle cells.

Cell movements can be created by the citoskeleton action, by differences of viscosity among cytoplasmic regions and by intracellular contraction systems.

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79⟩ What are cilia and flagella? How do these structures acquire movement? What are some examples of ciliated and flagellated cells in humans?

Cilia and flagella are structures found in some prokaryotes as well in some eukaryotic cells. They play defense, nutrition and movement roles for the cell. In eukaryotic cells of protists and animals they originate from centrioles that migrate towards the plasma membrane and differentiate into structures projected outside the cell. Each cilium or flagellum is made of nine peripheral pairs of microtubules and one central pair all covered by membrane. (In bacteria, flagella are made of a protein named flagellin and there can also be fimbria made of pilin.)

In the fixation base of each cilium or flagellum in the plasma membrane there are proteins that work as molecular motors providing movement for these structures with energy spending. Due to this energy spending ciliated or flagellated eukaryotic cells have a large number of mitochondria.

In humans ciliated cells can be found, for example, in the bronchial and tracheal epithelium. In these tissues the cilia have the defensive function of sweeping mucous and foreign substances that enter the airways. Sperm cells are typical example of flagellated cells their flagellum is the propulsion equipment for the movement towards the ovule.

Cytoskeleton and Cell Movement - Image Diversity: ciliated cell flagellate cell

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80⟩ How do the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus act in the production and releasing of proteins?

The rough endoplasmic reticulum has in its outer membrane numerous ribosomes, structures where translation of messenger RNA and protein synthesis occur. These proteins are stored in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and later they go to the Golgi apparatus. Within the Golgi apparatus proteins are chemically transformed and when ready they are put inside vesicles that detach from the organelle. These vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane (exocytosis) in the right place and its content is liberated outside the cell.

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