Lab Case Study 3: Cell Stucture And Function
Case Study 3: Cell stucture and function
Background Information: what are the major feature of eukaryotic cells?
In this case study, you will apply your knowledge regarding the function of cell structures. Metabolic disorders and unique characteristics of some cells will be used to illustrate the importance of individual structures.
Pick 5 out the following 7 small case studies. Each one focuses on one cell component. For each cell component, answer the following questions and also any questions presented in each study:
a. What is the structure of the cell component referred to in your case study? Be as specific as possible.
b. Where is it located in the cell?
c. Is it found in plants/animals/bacterial cells?
d. What is its normal …show more content…
function in the cell? At the end of each study, there is an internet link where you can find additional information.
1
Erythrocytes (red blood cells) have no nucleus, mitochondria, or other organelles at maturity. These organelles are ejected when the RBC enters the bloodstream, or shortly thereafter. Should this still be considered a cell? What will be the effect of having no nucleus? In these cells, the lack of mitochondria is an advantage. Why? Here is more information about red blood cells: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/blood_disorders/biology_of_blood/components_of_blood.html
a. The structure is, it has no nucleus, the cytoplasm contains mostly hemoglobin molecules.
b. Erythrocytes are located in blood vessels and come from bone marrow.
c. RBC is found in animal cells
d. They transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
I don’t think that this should still be considered a cell. There will be no effect of not having a nucleus because RBC does not have a nucleus. The lack of mitochondria is an advantage because it is not using oxygen attached to the cell.
2
Pompe’s disease is one of a class of lysosomal storage diseases in which one or more enzymes that are normally found in the lysosomes are defective or absent. In Pompe’s disease, the enzyme that normally breaks down glycogen is absent. Describe what you would see in an electron micrograph of a liver cell from an individual with Pompe’s disease. What are some possible consequences of having such a disease? Can you think of an effective way to treat it? You can find out more information at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pompe/pompe.htm 3 You are studying a biopsy of the liver of an alcoholic. What cellular organelle might you expect to see in larger-than-normal quantities? Explain why. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000281.htm We are expected to see enzymes in larger than normal quantities because they are doing all the work inside a cell.
a. This is the linear strand of all the amino acids found in the enzyme linked together by covalent peptide bonds.
b. Enzymes are found in the cytoplasm and mitochondria.
c. Enzymes are found in all cells.
d. The basic function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of a reaction
4
Many anticancer drugs are directed at either stabilizing or destabilizing the tubulin protein that makes up microtubules. Although these drugs are often effective in treating cancer, treatment can lead to hair loss and nausea. Explain. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21580/ Hair loss and nausea are caused by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is radiation used to kill cancer cells in ones body.
a. Tubulin proteins structure is long chains or filament that form microtubules, hollow fibers which serve as a skeletal system for living cells.
b. A tubulin is a spherical protein, usually found in eukaryotic cells that come in many forms, all of which play vital roles in the structure and function of the cell.
c. Tubulin proteins are found in plant cells.
d. Tubulin proteins are a component of the cytoskeleton found throughout the cytoplasm.
5 In cystic fibrosis, an important protein destined for the plasma membrane never makes it beyond the Golgi complex. This protein is necessary for Na+ and Cl– transport and is critical for maintaining mucous secretions of the appropriate consistency. Devise an explanation for why this may occur. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cf/ 6 “Imagine a major city with half its power plants shut down. At best, such conditions would produce a ‘brown out’ with large sections of the city working far below optimum efficiency. Now imagine your body with one-half of its energy-producing facilities shut down. The brain would be impaired, vision would be dim, muscles would twitch spastically or would be too weak to allow your body to walk or write, your heart would be weakened, and you would not be able to eat and digest your food.” Which organelle is being referred to in this description? What is its normal function in the cell? http://mitochondrialdiseases.org/mitochondrial-disease/ a.
It is a double membrane bound organelle. It has the outer membrane and the inner membrane. The membranes are made up of phospholipids and proteins.
b. It is located in eukaryotic cells
c. Mitochondria is found in plants & animals.
d. Mitochondria are structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.
The organelle that is being referred to in this description is mitochondria. The most important function of the mitochondria is to produce energy for our body to use.
7 Cells with mutations in their chloroplasts are often studied in order to understand the process of photosynthesis in more detail. Suppose you have a plant with no chlorophyll (it is an albino plant). Describe its appearance and the effect this would have on the plant.
Albino plants are white because they lack chlorophyll in their leaves. Since plants use chlorophyll for photosynthesis, having no chlorophyll is a problem. An albino plant can't make its own food so it must eat off other plants.
a. Chloroplasts are the food producers of the cell.
b. They are located everywhere in a plant cell, not in just one place.
c. Chloroplast is found in just plants.
d. Its normal function is to convert sunlight into sugars to be used by the plant
cells.
Background Information: what are the major feature of eukaryotic cells?
In this case study, you will apply your knowledge regarding the function of cell structures. Metabolic disorders and unique characteristics of some cells will be used to illustrate the importance of individual structures.
Pick 5 out the following 7 small case studies. Each one focuses on one cell component. For each cell component, answer the following questions and also any questions presented in each study:
a. What is the structure of the cell component referred to in your case study? Be as specific as possible.
b. Where is it located in the cell?
c. Is it found in plants/animals/bacterial cells?
d. What is its normal …show more content…
function in the cell? At the end of each study, there is an internet link where you can find additional information.
1
Erythrocytes (red blood cells) have no nucleus, mitochondria, or other organelles at maturity. These organelles are ejected when the RBC enters the bloodstream, or shortly thereafter. Should this still be considered a cell? What will be the effect of having no nucleus? In these cells, the lack of mitochondria is an advantage. Why? Here is more information about red blood cells: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/blood_disorders/biology_of_blood/components_of_blood.html
a. The structure is, it has no nucleus, the cytoplasm contains mostly hemoglobin molecules.
b. Erythrocytes are located in blood vessels and come from bone marrow.
c. RBC is found in animal cells
d. They transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
I don’t think that this should still be considered a cell. There will be no effect of not having a nucleus because RBC does not have a nucleus. The lack of mitochondria is an advantage because it is not using oxygen attached to the cell.
2
Pompe’s disease is one of a class of lysosomal storage diseases in which one or more enzymes that are normally found in the lysosomes are defective or absent. In Pompe’s disease, the enzyme that normally breaks down glycogen is absent. Describe what you would see in an electron micrograph of a liver cell from an individual with Pompe’s disease. What are some possible consequences of having such a disease? Can you think of an effective way to treat it? You can find out more information at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pompe/pompe.htm 3 You are studying a biopsy of the liver of an alcoholic. What cellular organelle might you expect to see in larger-than-normal quantities? Explain why. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000281.htm We are expected to see enzymes in larger than normal quantities because they are doing all the work inside a cell.
a. This is the linear strand of all the amino acids found in the enzyme linked together by covalent peptide bonds.
b. Enzymes are found in the cytoplasm and mitochondria.
c. Enzymes are found in all cells.
d. The basic function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of a reaction
4
Many anticancer drugs are directed at either stabilizing or destabilizing the tubulin protein that makes up microtubules. Although these drugs are often effective in treating cancer, treatment can lead to hair loss and nausea. Explain. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21580/ Hair loss and nausea are caused by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is radiation used to kill cancer cells in ones body.
a. Tubulin proteins structure is long chains or filament that form microtubules, hollow fibers which serve as a skeletal system for living cells.
b. A tubulin is a spherical protein, usually found in eukaryotic cells that come in many forms, all of which play vital roles in the structure and function of the cell.
c. Tubulin proteins are found in plant cells.
d. Tubulin proteins are a component of the cytoskeleton found throughout the cytoplasm.
5 In cystic fibrosis, an important protein destined for the plasma membrane never makes it beyond the Golgi complex. This protein is necessary for Na+ and Cl– transport and is critical for maintaining mucous secretions of the appropriate consistency. Devise an explanation for why this may occur. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cf/ 6 “Imagine a major city with half its power plants shut down. At best, such conditions would produce a ‘brown out’ with large sections of the city working far below optimum efficiency. Now imagine your body with one-half of its energy-producing facilities shut down. The brain would be impaired, vision would be dim, muscles would twitch spastically or would be too weak to allow your body to walk or write, your heart would be weakened, and you would not be able to eat and digest your food.” Which organelle is being referred to in this description? What is its normal function in the cell? http://mitochondrialdiseases.org/mitochondrial-disease/ a.
It is a double membrane bound organelle. It has the outer membrane and the inner membrane. The membranes are made up of phospholipids and proteins.
b. It is located in eukaryotic cells
c. Mitochondria is found in plants & animals.
d. Mitochondria are structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.
The organelle that is being referred to in this description is mitochondria. The most important function of the mitochondria is to produce energy for our body to use.
7 Cells with mutations in their chloroplasts are often studied in order to understand the process of photosynthesis in more detail. Suppose you have a plant with no chlorophyll (it is an albino plant). Describe its appearance and the effect this would have on the plant.
Albino plants are white because they lack chlorophyll in their leaves. Since plants use chlorophyll for photosynthesis, having no chlorophyll is a problem. An albino plant can't make its own food so it must eat off other plants.
a. Chloroplasts are the food producers of the cell.
b. They are located everywhere in a plant cell, not in just one place.
c. Chloroplast is found in just plants.
d. Its normal function is to convert sunlight into sugars to be used by the plant
cells.