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Question 1
Correct
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Cyclic AMP activates the following enzyme
Your Answer: Protein Kinase A
Explanation:Cyclic AMP works by activating protein kinase A (PKA, or cAMP-dependent protein kinase). Protein kinase A can also phosphorylate specific proteins that bind to promoter regions of DNA, causing increases in transcription.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 2
Incorrect
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Changes in cadherin expression are associated with
Your Answer: Activation of apoptosis in the cell.
Correct Answer: Tumour metastatic potential
Explanation:Cadherins play a role in maintaining cell and tissue structure, and in cellular movement. The E-cadherin–catenin complex plays a key role in cellular adhesion; loss of this function has been associated with greater tumour metastasis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 3
Correct
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The interior of lysosomes is kept at a pH of around 5 by the action of:
Your Answer: H+ ATPase
Explanation:The lysosome maintains its pH differential by pumping in protons (H+ ions) from the cytosol across the membrane via proton pumps and chloride ion channels. Vacuolar H+-ATPases are responsible for transport of protons, while the counter transport of chloride ions is performed by ClC-7 Cl−/H+ antiporter.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 4
Incorrect
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Hydroxyl radicals are broken down by which of the following substance?
Your Answer: Hydroxyl reductase
Correct Answer: Antioxidants
Explanation:Unlike superoxide, which can be detoxified by superoxide dismutase, the hydroxyl radical cannot be eliminated by an enzymatic reaction but it is believed can be counteracted by antioxidants.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 5
Incorrect
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The processing of NH3 to urea occurs in:
Your Answer: Mitochondria alone
Correct Answer: Mitochondria and cytoplasm
Explanation:The urea cycle (also known as the ornithine cycle) is a cycle of biochemical reactions that produces urea ((NH2)2CO) from ammonia (NH3). The urea cycle consists of four enzymatic reactions: one mitochondrial and three cytosolic.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 6
Correct
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The complete oxidation of 1 molecule of glucose to CO2 and H20 produces a total of __ATP.
Your Answer: 38
Explanation:Textbooks often state that 38 ATP molecules can be made per oxidised glucose molecule during cellular respiration (2 from glycolysis, 2 from the Krebs cycle, and about 34 from the electron transport system). However, this maximum yield is never quite reached because of losses due to leaky membranes as well as the cost of moving pyruvate and ADP into the mitochondrial matrix, and current estimates range around 29 to 30 ATP per glucose.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 7
Incorrect
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With regards to the cell cycle, which phase represents period of cell growth that divides the end of DNA synthesis and the beginning of somatic cell division?
Your Answer: Gap 1
Correct Answer: Gap 2
Explanation:Interphase is divided into three phases: G1 (first gap), S (synthesis), and G2 (second gap). During all three parts of interphase, the cell grows by producing proteins and cytoplasmic organelles. However, chromosomes are replicated only during the S phase. Thus, a cell grows (G1), continues to grow as it duplicates its chromosomes (S), grows more and prepares for mitosis (G2), and finally divides (M) before restarting the cycle.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 8
Correct
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Mitosis is the process of cell division which culminates in cell chromosomes which are:
Your Answer: Diploid
Explanation:Mitosis is a part of the cell cycle when replicated chromosomes are separated into two new diploid nuclei.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 9
Correct
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Which caspase is part of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways?
Your Answer: Caspase-3
Explanation:Once initiator caspases are activated in both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway, they produce a chain reaction, activating several other executioner caspases (Caspase 3, Caspase 6 and Caspase 7).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 10
Incorrect
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Which intercellular connections are responsible for fastening the cells to one another?
Your Answer: Hemidesmosomes, focal adhesions & gap junctions
Correct Answer: Hemidesmosomes, zonula adherens & desmosomes
Explanation:There are three major types of cell junction:Adherens junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes (anchoring junctions),Gap junctions (communicating junction) &Tight junctions (occluding junctions)
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 11
Correct
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Regarding integrins, which option is false?
Your Answer: Play no role in cell signalling.
Explanation:Integrins are transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion. Upon ligand binding, integrins activate signal transduction pathways that mediate cellular signals such as regulation of the cell cycle, organization of the intracellular cytoskeleton, and movement of new receptors to the cell membrane. Integrins are obligate heterodimers, meaning that they have two subunits: α (alpha) and β (beta). Integrins play an important role in cell signalling by modulating the cell signalling pathways of transmembrane protein kinases such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 12
Correct
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Intermediate filaments achieve cell to cell contact via:
Your Answer: Desmosomes
Explanation:At the plasma membrane, some keratins interact with desmosomes (cell-cell adhesion) and hemidesmosomes (cell-matrix adhesion) via adapter proteins.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 13
Correct
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Which ion channel is a dimer?
Your Answer: Cl- channel
Explanation:A dimer is a chemical structure formed from two similar sub-units. Chloride channels or exchangers are composed of two similar subunits—a dimer—each subunit containing one pore.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 14
Correct
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The free radical most abundantly formed by the immune system is:
Your Answer: Hydroxyl radical
Explanation:Neutrophil and macrophage phagocytosis stimulates various cellular processes including the respiratory burst whereby increased cellular oxygen uptake results in the production of the potent oxidant bactericidal agents, hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radical.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 15
Correct
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Which one of the following is able to move across cell membranes by passive diffusion?
Your Answer: CO2
Explanation:The cell membrane is permeable to water molecules and a few other small, uncharged, molecules like oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Larger molecules like glucose or charged ions are unable to cross passively.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 16
Correct
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Which is true of the citric acid cycle?
Your Answer: Involves a series of reactions where oxaloacetate is regenerated
Explanation:The cycle consumes acetate (in the form of acetyl-CoA) and water, reduces NAD+ to NADH, and produces carbon dioxide as a waste by-product. The NADH generated by the citric acid cycle is fed into the oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport) pathway. At the end of each cycle, the four-carbon oxaloacetate has been regenerated, and the cycle continues. The net result of these two closely linked pathways is the oxidation of nutrients to produce usable chemical energy in the form of ATP. Acetyl-CoA, is the starting point for the citric acid cycle and in eukaryotic cells, the citric acid cycle occurs in the matrix of the mitochondrion. Though the Krebs cycle does not directly require oxygen, it can only take place when oxygen is present because it relies on by-products and is therefore an aerobic process.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 17
Correct
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Question 18
Correct
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Which of the following statements is most suitable to describe necrosis?
Your Answer: Significant inflammatory response
Explanation:Necrosis is the death of most or all of the cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury, or failure of the blood supply. Cellular death due to necrosis does not follow the (regulated) apoptotic signal transduction pathway, but rather various receptors are activated, and result in the loss of cell membrane integrity and an uncontrolled release of products of cell death into the extracellular space. This initiates in the surrounding tissue an inflammatory response which attracts leukocytes and nearby phagocytes which eliminate the dead cells by phagocytosis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 19
Incorrect
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The formation of superoxide is catalysed by which enzyme?
Your Answer: Superoxide dismutase
Correct Answer: NADPH oxidase
Explanation:Superoxide is biologically toxic and is deployed by the immune system to kill invading microorganisms. In phagocytes, superoxide is produced in large quantities by the enzyme NADPH oxidase for use in oxygen-dependent killing mechanisms of invading pathogens.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 20
Correct
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The cell membrane:
Your Answer: Is a bilayer of amphipathic lipids
Explanation:The cell membrane consists of a bilayer of amphipathic lipids with embedded proteins. The basic function of the cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. It is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules. The entire membrane is held together via non-covalent interaction of hydrophobic tails, however the structure is quite fluid and not fixed rigidly in place. Membranes are typically 7.5–10 nm in thickness and typically have a large content of proteins, around 50% of membrane volume.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 21
Correct
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With regards to the function of the p53 protein produced by the p53 gene, which of the following statements is incorrect?
Your Answer: It permits repair of mutations and other defects in RNA
Explanation:P53 has many mechanisms of anticancer function and plays a role in apoptosis, genomic stability, and inhibition of angiogenesis. In its anti-cancer role, p53 works through several mechanisms:It can activate DNA repair proteins when DNA has sustained damage. Thus, it may be an important factor in aging.It can arrest growth by holding the cell cycle at the G1/S regulation point on DNA damage recognitionIt can initiate apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death) if DNA damage proves to be irreparable.It is essential for the senescence response to short telomeres.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 22
Correct
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Microtubule disassembly:
Your Answer: Occurs at the positive and negative end
Explanation:Dynamic instability refers to the coexistence of assembly and disassembly at the ends of a microtubule. The microtubule can dynamically switch between growing and shrinking phases in this region. Although both assembly and disassembly occur at both ends they occur preferentially at the (+) end.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 23
Correct
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The function of the Golgi apparatus is
Your Answer: Maturation of peptides secreted by the rER into functional proteins by glycosylation
Explanation:Steroidogenesis is a multi-step process that occurs in two organelles, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondrion. The Golgi apparatus is a major collection and dispatch station of protein products received from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Proteins synthesized in the ER are packaged into vesicles, which then fuse with the Golgi apparatus. The majority of proteins synthesized in the rough ER undergo glycosylation which occurs in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosylation mainly refers in particular to the enzymatic process that attaches glycans to proteins, lipids, or other organic molecules. These cargo proteins are modified and destined for secretion via exocytosis or for use in the cell. The Golgi apparatus is also involved in lipid transport and lysosome formation.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 24
Incorrect
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What is the function of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins, Bax and Bak?
Your Answer: Stimulates the intracellular release of lysosomal contents
Correct Answer: Form permissive pores in the mitochondrial membrane
Explanation:The pro-apoptotic proteins in the BCL-2 family, including Bax and Bak, normally act on the mitochondrial membrane to promote permeabilization and release of cytochrome C and ROS, that are important signals in the apoptosis cascade. Growing evidence suggests that activated BAX and/or Bak form an oligomeric pore, MAC in the mitochondrial outer membrane. This results in the release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondria, often referred to as mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, leading to activation of caspases.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 25
Incorrect
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Which one of the following transporters is involved in facilitated diffusion?
Your Answer: Na+/K+ ATPase
Correct Answer: GLUT2
Explanation:GLUT 2 is a bidirectional transporter, allowing glucose to flow in 2 directions via facilitated diffusion. Is expressed by renal tubular cells, liver cells and pancreatic beta cells. It is also present in the basolateral membrane of the small intestine epithelium.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 26
Correct
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The Cellular Theory of Ageing involves?
Your Answer: Loss of telomeres
Explanation:Cellular theories of aging propose that human aging is the result of cellular aging, whereby an increasing proportion of cells reach senescence, a terminal stage at which cells will cease to divide. This will limit the body’s ability to regenerate and to respond to injury or stress. Telomeres are bits of DNA on the ends of chromosomes that protect chromosomes from sticking to each other or tangling, which could cause DNA to abnormally function. As cells replicate, telomeres shorten at the end of chromosomes, and this process correlates to senescence or cellular aging.
Other theories include:
- The Free Radical Theory: Implicates the gradual accumulation of oxidative cellular damage as a fundamental driver of cellular aging. This theory has evolved over time to emphasize the role of free radical induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and the accumulation of mtDNA deletions. Given the proximity of mtDNA to the electron transport chain, a primary producer of free radicals, it postulates that the mutations would promote mitochondrial dysfunction and concomitantly increase free radical production in a positive feedback loop. It is known that diet, lifestyle, drugs (e.g. tobacco and alcohol) and radiation etc., are all accelerators of free radical production within the body.
- Error theory: based on the idea that errors can occur in the transcription of the synthesis of DNA. These errors are perpetuated and eventually lead to systems that do not function at the optimum level. The organism’s aging and death are attributable to these events (Sonneborn, 1979).
- The Cross-Linking Theory: also referred to as the Glycosylation Theory of Aging. In this theory it is the binding of glucose (simple sugars) to protein, (a process that occurs under the presence of oxygen) that causes various problems. Once this binding has occurred the protein becomes impaired and is unable to perform as efficiently. Living a longer life is going to lead to the increased possibility of oxygen meeting glucose and protein and known cross-linking disorders include senile cataract and the appearance of tough, leathery and yellow skin.
- The Neuroendocrine Theory First proposed by Professor Vladimir Dilman and Ward Dean MD, this theory elaborates on wear and tear by focusing on the neuroendocrine system. This system is a complicated network of biochemicals that govern the release of hormones which are altered by the walnut sized gland called the hypothalamus located in the brain. The hypothalamus controls various chain-reactions to instruct other organs and glands to release their hormones etc. The hypothalamus also responds to the body hormone levels as a guide to the overall hormonal activity. But as we grow older the hypothalamus loses it precision regulatory ability and the receptors which uptake individual hormones become less sensitive to them. Accordingly, as we age the secretion of many hormones declines and their effectiveness (compared unit to unit) is also reduced due to the receptors down-grading
- The Membrane Theory of Aging:Â According to this theory it is the age-related changes of the cell’s ability to transfer chemicals, heat and electrical processes that impair it. As we grow older the cell membrane becomes less lipid (less watery and more solid). This impedes its efficiency to conduct normal function and in particular there is a toxic accumulation
- The Decline Theory: The mitochondria are the power producing organelles found in every cell of every organ. Their primary job is to create Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and they do so in the various energy cycles that involve nutrients such as Acetyl-L-Carnitine, CoQ10 (Idebenone), NADH and some B vitamins etc. Enhancement and protection of the mitochondria is an essential part of preventing and slowing aging. Enhancement can be achieved with the above mention nutrients, as well as ATP supplements themselves.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 27
Incorrect
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Regarding oxidative deamination of amino acids, which of the following is true?
Your Answer: Occurs only in the liver
Correct Answer: Occurs in the kidney & liver
Explanation:Oxidative deamination is a form of deamination that generates α-keto acids and other oxidized products from amine-containing compounds, and occurs largely in the liver and kidney. Oxidative deamination is an important step in the catabolism of amino acids, generating a more metabolizable form of the amino acid, and also generating ammonia as a toxic by-product. The addition of ubiquitin to a substrate protein is called ubiquitination.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 28
Correct
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In the body what are fatty acids broken down to?
Your Answer: Acetyl Co A
Explanation:Fatty acids are broken down into acetyl Co A. The acetyl-CoA produced by beta oxidation enters the citric acid cycle in the mitochondrion by combining with oxaloacetate to form citrate.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 29
Incorrect
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Microfilaments exist in:
Your Answer: Cytosol
Correct Answer: All of the options
Explanation:Microfilaments, also called actin filaments, are filamentous structures in the cytoplasm of cells and form part of the cytoskeleton.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 30
Correct
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Question 31
Correct
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Question 32
Correct
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Free radicals are best defined by which of the following statements.
Your Answer: Atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons
Explanation:Free radicals form when one of weak bond between electrons is broken and an uneven number of electrons remain. This means the electron is unpaired, making it chemically reactive and attempt to steal an electron from a neighbouring molecule to stabilize itself.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 33
Incorrect
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With regard to cell membrane proteins:
Your Answer: Those that act as pumps transport substances down an electrochemical gradient
Correct Answer: Carriers are involved in facilitated diffusion
Explanation:Pumps use a source of free energy such as ATP to transport ions against a gradient and is an example of active transport. Unlike channel proteins which only transport substances through membranes passively, carrier proteins can transport ions and molecules either passively through facilitated diffusion, or via secondary active transport. Channels are either in open state or closed state. When a channel is opened, it is open to both extracellular and intracellular. Pores are continuously open to both environments, because they do not undergo conformational changes. They are always open and active.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 34
Correct
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With regard to the cell membrane:
Your Answer: It consists of an outer hydrophilic & an inner hydrophobic layer
Explanation:The cell membrane consists primarily of a thin layer of amphipathic phospholipids that spontaneously arrange with the hydrophobic tail regions on the inside and the hydrophilic head regions outside. Membranes typically have a large content of proteins, around 50% of membrane volume.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 35
Correct
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In blistering dermatological disorders e.g.. Pemphigus, which junctions are attacked by autoantibodies?
Your Answer: Desmosomes
Explanation:Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies directed against both desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 present in desmosomes. Loss of desmosomes results in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes in the epidermis, and a disruption of the barrier function served by intact skin. The process is classified as a type II hypersensitivity reaction
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 36
Incorrect
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In which organelle is the intrinsic apoptotic pathway initiated?
Your Answer: Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: Mitochondria
Explanation:Apoptosis is a programmed form of cell death involving the degradation of cellular constituents by a group of cysteine proteases called caspases. The caspases can be activated through either the intrinsic (mitochondrial mediated) or extrinsic (death receptor mediated) apoptotic pathways. The intrinsic apoptotic pathway is characterized by permeabilization of the mitochondria and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 37
Incorrect
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What is the enzyme that is involved in the formation of citrulline?
Your Answer: Pyruvate dehydrogenase
Correct Answer: Ornithine transcarbamoylase
Explanation:Carbamoyl phosphate is converted to citrulline by ornithine transcarbamoylase.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 38
Incorrect
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Cyclic AMP is formed from ATP via which enzyme
Your Answer: Phosphodiesterase
Correct Answer: Adenylate cyclase
Explanation:Cyclic AMP is synthesized from ATP by adenylate cyclase located on the inner side of the plasma membrane and anchored at various locations in the interior of the cell.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 39
Incorrect
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Inhibition of cell division at the end of G1 occurs through:
Your Answer: p53
Correct Answer: Unphosphorolated retinoblastoma protein (uRb)
Explanation:A cell’s decision to enter, or re-enter, the cell cycle is made before S-phase in G1 at what is known as the restriction point, and is determined by the combination of promotional and inhibitory extracellular signals that are received and processed. Ultimately unphosphorylated Rb acts as an inhibitor of G1.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 40
Incorrect
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What is the function of secondary messengers?
Your Answer: Communication from intracellular to extracellular signalling pathways
Correct Answer: Communication from extracellular to intracellular signalling pathways
Explanation:First messengers may not physically cross the phospholipid bilayer to initiate changes within the cell directly. This functional limitation necessitates the cell to devise signal transduction mechanisms to transduce first messenger into second messengers, so that the extracellular signal may be propagated intracellularly. Second messengers are intracellular signalling molecules released by the cell to trigger physiological changes such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and apoptosis. Secondary messengers are therefore one of the initiating components of intracellular signal transduction cascades.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
