Final Exam Notes for Cell Biology (BIO 330) on Mitochondria & Photosynthesis

These flashcards cover fundamental vocabulary terms from the lecture notes on Cell Biology, focusing on mitochondria and the principles of photosynthesis.

Lysosome

A single membrane bound organelle with a pH of 4.5-5.0, containing hydrolytic enzymes for breaking down waste materials.

Heterophagy

Process involving the degradation of extracellular material through lysosomal fusion with phagosomes.

Autophagy

The process by which a cell degrades its own components, essential for organelle turnover and cellular homeostasis.

Mitophagy

A specific type of autophagy that targets and degrades mitochondria.

Proteasome

A macromolecular machine responsible for degrading ubiquitin-labeled proteins into peptides.

Mitochondrial DNA

The DNA found within mitochondria, different from nuclear DNA, and prone to mutations due to lack of error checking.

Oxidative phosphorylation

A metabolic pathway occurring in mitochondria that uses oxygen to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell.

Calvin cycle

The cycle in photosynthesis that converts carbon dioxide and other compounds into glucose using ATP and NADPH.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment involved in the absorption of light for photosynthesis.

C4 plants

Plants that utilize PEP carboxylase for CO2 fixation, adaptation for hot and arid conditions.

Extravasation

The movement of leukocytes out of the circulatory system to target infections.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that can be intrinsic (mitochondria-triggered) or extrinsic (cell death receptors initiated).

BCL-2

An anti-apoptotic protein that, when overexpressed, can lead to drug resistance in cancer cells.

Glycosaminoglycans

A family of polysaccharides that are part of the extracellular matrix, important for hydration and resistance to compression.

Integrins

Transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell-ECM adhesion through binding to specific sequences like RGD.

Anoikis

A form of programmed cell death that occurs when cells detach from the extracellular matrix.

Tay-Sachs Disease

A genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in hexosaminidase A, leading to accumulation of GM2 gangliosides.

Hurler Syndrome

A lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency in alpha-L-iduronidase, characterized by multiple systemic abnormalities.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic prokaryotes that produce oxygen and are used in environmental remediation.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy, producing carbohydrates from CO2 and water.

Carbohydrate metabolism

The biochemical process in which carbohydrates are broken down into energy, mainly occurring through glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.

Mitophagy

A selective form of autophagy targeting dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation.