Ch 18 Cell Cycle Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to the cell cycle, its regulation, and associated processes like mitosis and apoptosis.

Cell Cycle

The series of events that a cell goes through as it grows and divides, producing two genetically identical daughter cells.

Mitosis

The process during cell division where the nucleus divides, resulting in two daughter nuclei.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm of a parent cell into two daughter cells after mitosis.

G1 Phase

The first gap phase in the cell cycle where the cell grows and prepares for DNA synthesis.

S Phase

The synthesis phase of the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs.

M Phase

The phase of the cell cycle that includes both mitosis and cytokinesis.

Cell-Cycle Control System

A system that regulates the timing and sequence of events in the cell cycle.

Cyclin-dependent Kinases (Cdks)

Enzymes that, when activated by binding to cyclins, regulate the progression of the cell cycle.

Apoptosis

A form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms, essential for regulating cell numbers.

Cohesins

Protein complexes that hold sister chromatids together until they separate during anaphase.

Condensins

Proteins that help condense chromatin into compact chromosomes during cell division.

Mitogen

A substance that stimulates cellular division.

p53 Protein

A protein that regulates the cell cycle and functions as a tumor suppressor by activating the transcription of genes involved in cell growth arrest and apoptosis.

Rb Protein

A tumor suppressor protein that plays a key role in regulating the cell cycle; inhibits entry to S phase when unphosphorylated.

G1/S-Cdk and S-Cdk

Cyclin-Cdk complexes that promote entry into the S phase and initiate DNA replication.

Cdc25 Phosphatase

An enzyme that activates M-Cdk by removing inhibitory phosphate groups.

APC/C

Anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome, a protein complex that triggers the transition from metaphase to anaphase by promoting the degradation of cohesins.

Cleavage Furrow

The indentation that begins the process of cytokinesis in animal cells.