APB - Unit 4 - Cell Communication & Cell Cycle 3 #GoBioRams

Fig. 12.15, 12.16, and 12.17 on pages 243 to 245.

Growth factors (GFs) are used to signal the need to grow new cells.

Healthy cells have density-dependent inhibition = too crowded -> stop dividing.

Healthy cells also have anchorage dependance = they need to stick to the appropriate extracellular matrix for support.

Cyclins = purple = concentration gradient that determines when the cell will proceed to the next phase

Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) = orange = always present in the cell = will be activated only if cyclin attaches

Maturation promoting factor (MPFs) = orange & purple = activated and will phosphorylate (add phosphates) to proteins

Cancer cells ignore density-dependent inhibition.

Cancer cells ignore anchorage dependence.

Cancer cells also just look odd.

Fig. 12.19 on page 246

We discussed Cell Cycle Regulation.

We discussed how Cancer is tied to the Cell Cycle.

We discussed how Cancerous cells are physically different from healthy cells.

We also introduced various research techniques.