CELS191 Lecture 4: Endomembrane System & Bulk Transport Processes

A series of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts covered in CELS191 Lecture 4 on the endomembrane system and bulk transport processes.

Endomembrane System

A network of membranes that includes the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, vesicles, lysosomes, and the plasma membrane.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (rER)

A type of endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes, involved in protein synthesis and processing.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (sER)

A type of endoplasmic reticulum lacking ribosomes, involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium ion storage.

Golgi Apparatus

A series of membrane sacs that modifies, sorts, and ships proteins received from the rough ER.

Exocytosis

The bulk transport process that moves materials out of the cell, involving the fusion of vesicles with the plasma membrane.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in molecules and particulate matter via vesicle formation.

Phagocytosis

A form of endocytosis where the cell 'eats' or engulfs large particles, forming a phagocytic vacuole.

Pinocytosis

A form of endocytosis known as 'cell drinking', where the cell takes in extracellular fluid.

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

A specialized form of pinocytosis that involves the uptake of specific substances via receptor proteins.

Lysosome

A membrane-bound organelle containing hydrolytic enzymes for digestion and recycling of cellular materials.

Vacuole

A large membrane-bound sac in plants that stores substances, absorbs water, and can have lysosome-like functions.

Constitutive Exocytosis

The continuous release of materials from the cell, such as extracellular matrix proteins.

Regulated Exocytosis

Controlled release of hormones and neurotransmitters from the cell in response to specific signals.

Glycosylation

The process of adding carbohydrates to proteins, which is important for their function and secretion.

Autophagy

The process of degrading and recycling unwanted cellular materials within lysosomes.

Signal transduction

The process by which a cell responds to signals from the external environment.

Vesicles

Membrane-bound structures that transport materials within the cell and to the cell surface.

Transport Vesicles

Vesicles that carry proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus or to the plasma membrane.

Secretory Vesicles

Vesicles that contain materials destined for exocytosis, such as hormones or neurotransmitters.

Trans Golgi

The face of the Golgi apparatus where processed vesicles exit to the cell surface or other destinations.

Cis Golgi

The face of the Golgi apparatus where vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum arrive for processing.

Hydrolytic Enzymes

Enzymes found in lysosomes that break down macromolecules into smaller components.

Calcium Ions

Ions stored in the smooth ER that are involved in cell signaling.

Vesicle Trafficking

The process of directing vesicles to their correct destination within the cell.

Cell Recognition

The ability of cells to identify and adhere to other cells and extracellular matrix.

Cell Membrane

The phospholipid bilayer that surrounds the cell and regulates transport of materials into and out of the cell.

Endocytosis Types

Three types include phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Macrophages

A type of immune cell that performs phagocytosis to engulf pathogens.

Packaging and Tagging

The process of adding molecular markers to proteins in the Golgi to ensure correct vesicle transport.

Intercellular Joining

The connections formed between cells that facilitate communication and adhesion.

Membrane Transport

Various mechanisms by which substances move across the cell membrane.

Plasma Membrane

The outer boundary of the cell, composed of a lipid bilayer that includes embedded proteins.

Membrane-bound Organelles

Specialized structures within the cell that are surrounded by membranes.

Lipid Bilayer

The fundamental structure of cell membranes composed of two layers of phospholipids.

Programmed Cell Death

A controlled process by which cells undergo apoptosis, sometimes involving lysosomal enzymes.

Cell Compartmentalization

The organization of cellular processes within distinct membrane-bound compartments.

Hydrophilic Molecules

Molecules that are attracted to water and can interact with the aqueous environment of the cell.

Hydrophobic Molecules

Molecules that repel water and are typically found within the lipid bilayer of cell membranes.

Calcium Storage

The function of the smooth ER in maintaining intracellular calcium levels for signaling.

Protein Processing

The various modifications proteins undergo in the rER and Golgi before being secreted.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that the Golgi apparatus produces and may secrete into the extracellular environment.

Tagging Vesicles

Adding molecular markers to vesicles to direct them to their appropriate cellular destinations.

Acidic Environment of Lysosomes

The low pH within lysosomes necessary for the optimal activity of digestive enzymes.

Vesicle Fusion

The process by which vesicles merge with the plasma membrane or other organelle membranes.

Cellular Uptake

The process by which cells take in substances from the extracellular environment.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A conceptual model that describes the structure of cell membranes as a fluid combination of lipids and proteins.

Biological Membranes

Thin, flexible barriers that encase cells and organelles, composed primarily of lipid bilayers.

Protein Synthesis Pathway

The series of steps involving amino acid assembly into proteins in the rER and post-translational modifications.

Secreted Proteins

Proteins that exit the cell through exocytosis following processing in the rER and Golgi.

Endomembrane Interaction

The dynamic relationships and communications between different organelles within the endomembrane system.

Bulk Transport Mechanism

Processes by which large quantities of materials are moved across the cell membrane.

Molecular Markers

Tags that direct proteins to their specific cellular locations, often added during processing in the Golgi.

Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Proteins secreted by cells into their environment, often involved in tissue structure and function.

Vesicular Transport

The movement of materials within vesicles from one compartment to another in the endomembrane system.