Intracellular Compartments and Transport

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to intracellular compartments and transport mechanisms discussed in the lecture.

Cytosol

The fluid component of the cytoplasm containing metabolic pathways and protein synthesis.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains the main genome, and is responsible for DNA and RNA synthesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

A membranous organelle involved in lipid synthesis and protein production for distribution.

Golgi apparatus

The organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids.

Lysosomes

Organelles responsible for intracellular degradation.

Nuclear pore complex

A structure that regulates transport between the nucleus and cytosol.

Signal sequence

A short sequence of amino acids that directs a protein to its destination.

Gated transport

A mechanism used to transport molecules between the cytosol and the nucleus.

Transmembrane transport

A method of transporting proteins across membranes to organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Vesicular transport

A transport mechanism involving vesicles to shuttle proteins between organelles.

Nuclear localization signal (NLS)

A sequence that specifies a protein's transport into the nucleus.

Co-translational translocation

The process where protein synthesis and import into the ER occur simultaneously.

Signal patch

Formed from amino acids in different segments of a protein for targeting.

Post-translational modification

Chemical changes to a protein after its synthesis, such as glycosylation.

Signal peptidase

An enzyme that cleaves the signal sequence from a protein during transport.

Precursor protein

An unfolded form of protein that requires import into organelles.

Mitochondria

Organelles responsible for ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis.

Translocators

A group of proteins that facilitate the transport of proteins across cell membranes.