NEUR 3044: Terms for Cell Cycle, Stem Cells. and Neurogenesis

Mitosis

cell division where a single cell splits into two identical daughter cells

G1

first phase of the cell cycle when the cell grows, performs normal functions, and prepares for DNA replication

G0

quiescent state in which a cell exits the active cell cycle and is not actively dividing

G2

phase after DNA replication where the cell grows, checks replicated DNA, and prepares for mitosis

S phase

phase of the cell cycle in which the cell replicates its DNA

Axon

carries electrical signals away from the soma toward target cells

Dendrite

receives incoming signals from other cells

Soma

cell body of a neuron that contains the nucleus

Prophase

stage of mitosis when chromosomes condense and the cell begins preparing for chromosome separation

Metaphase

stage of mitosis where chromosomes align at the middle of the cell

Anaphase

stage of mitosis where sister chromatids separate and move toward opposite sides of the cell

Telophase

stage of mitosis when chromosomes reach opposite sides and new nuclear envelopes form

Cytokinesis

division of the cytoplasm that separates one cell into two daughter cells

Cyclins

a regulatory protein that activates CDKs to promote progression through specific stages of the cell cycle

CDKs

an active complex formed when a cyclin binds to a CDK, allowing the CDK to phosphorylate target proteins involved in cell-cycle progression

Maturation-Promoting Factor

a complex of M-phase cyclin + CDK that promotes progression into M phase and mitotic events

APC/C

a protein complex that promotes progression through mitosis by targeting specific cell-cycle proteins for degradation

Negative regulator

a molecule or protein that inhibits or halts cell-cycle progression

Positive regulator

a molecule or protein that promotes progression through the cell cycle

p53

a tumor-suppressor protein that responds to DNA damage by promoting cell-cycle arrest and DNA repair or, when damage is severe, apoptosis

p21

a CDKinhibitor that blocks C/CDK activity, helping prevent the cell from progressing from G1 into S phase

Rb (Retinoblastoma protein)

a tumor-suppressor protein that controls the G1-to-S transition by binding E2F and preventing activation of genes needed for S phase

E2F

a transcription factor that activates genes required for DNA replication and S-phase progression when released from Rb

Stem cell

an unspecialized cell that can self-renew and differentiate into more specialized cell types

Differentiation

the process by which an unspecialized cell develops into a more specialized cell type

Progenitor cell

a cell derived from a stem-cell that can produce more specialized cells / has less self-renewal potential than a stem cell

Radial glia

a neural stem-related cell that plays an important role in CNS development, including generating neural cells