CYTOLOGY
DIRECTIONS: Choose the ONE BEST response.
1. With respect to the fluid mosaic model of the membrane:
a. glycosylated parts of integral proteins are always on the “outside”
b. peripheral proteins associate only with lipids of the outer leaflet
c. integral proteins are always free to float in the plane of the membrane
d. identical phospholipids constitute both parts of the lipid bilayer
e. hydrophobic regions of integral proteins bind mainly to the electron dense regions
of the membrane
2. In a cell the area or structure richest in actin filaments is the
a. centrosomes
b. terminal web
c. perikaryon
d. nucleus
e. desmosomes
3. Actin filaments support and maintain shape in
a. microvilli
b. cilia
c. flagellae
d. axons
e. nuclear lamina
4. Which of the following generalizations is correct?
a. RNA often returns to the nucleus after entering the cytoplasm
b. mitochondrial DNA codes for all mitochondrial proteins
c. proteins produced in the cytoplasm may enter the nucleus
d. translation occurs in the nucleus
e. polyribosomes represent the pool of “free’ ribosomes in the cytoplasm, not those
bound to rER
5. The nuclear lamina
a. is composed of microtubules
b. is located in the perinuclear cisternae
c. breaks down when lamins are phosphorylated
d. does not associate with the nucleolus
e. is absent from regions of heterochromatin
6. Coated vesicles
a. are found only in conjunction with receptor-mediated endocytosis
b. transport material in one direction only – towards the plasma membrane
c. are coated with clathrin or coatomer proteins
d. exclude receptors from the plasma membrane
e. provide a mechanism for internalizing large particles such as bacteria
7. The phase of mitosis during which the chromosomes first begin to move toward opposite
poles is known as
a. prophase
b. prometaphase
c. metaphase
d. anaphase
e. telophase
8. Mitochondria which move about in cells are most closely associated with
a. nuclear lamina
b. microtubules
c. rough endoplasmic reticulum
d. microvilli
e. trans Golgi network
9. Nucleoli
a. are enclosed in a unit membrane
b. assemble integral membrane proteins
c. are sites of translation of 18S RNA
d. are formed at the primary constriction of the chromosome
e. are formed by 5 chromosome pairs known as the nucleolar organizing regions
10. Peroxisomes
a. contain acid hydrolases
b. are self-replicating
c. synthesize their own protein
d. are derived from the TGN
e. produce ATP
11. The Golgi apparatus
a. stains uniformly with PAS
b. plays an unimportant role in the glycosylation of proteins
c. is involved in post-translational modification of lysosomal proteins
d. dilutes a concentrated product received from ER
e. its location is polarized in neurons
12. Which of the following is TRUE of the nuclear lamina?
a. the elements that compose it are a type of intermediate filament
b. composed of proteins known as nexins
c. all of its components remain associated with chromosomes during mitosis
d. it forms a barrier to traffic through nuclear pores
e. it is not associated with the nuclear matrix
13. Which of the following occurs on the mitochondrial inner membrane?
a. transcription
b. translation
c. replication of DNA
d. electron transport (respiratory chain)
e. assembly of ribosomes
DIRECTIONS FOR QUESTIONS 14 - 17: Choose the best answer from the given lists.
List for questions 14-17:
a. Golgi
b. rough ER
c. smooth ER
d. nucleolus
e. extra-nucleolar DNA
14. initial glycosylation of proteins
15. synthesis of integral membrane proteins
16. synthesis of mRNA
17. detoxification of drugs in the liver
List for questions 18-20:
a. limited by a single unit membrane
b. limited by a double unit membrane
c. not limited by a unit membrane
18. nucleolus
19. nucleus
20. lipid droplet
KEY
1. a The glycosylated parts of integral proteins are part of the carbohydrate component
of the plasma membrane that form the glycocalyx. As far as the other choices in this
question: peripheral proteins can associate with other proteins or lipids on the inner
or outer leaflet; the movement of integral proteins can be hindered by attachment to
components of the cytoskeleton or to proteins on adjacent membranes, etc; the
plasma membrane is asymmetrical – different phospholipids make up the inner and
outer leaflet; and the electron dense regions of the membrane represents the
hydrophilic portions of its components and therefore would not associate with
hydrophobic regions of integral proteins.
2. b The terminal web is the region just below the base of microvilli containing a
horizontal network of actin filaments. Centrosomes contain tubulin; the perikaryon
or cell body usually in reference to nerve cells contains actin but actin is more
concentrated in the terminal web; the nucleus’ filamentous component is mostly
lamins, and desmosomes provide anchoring sites for intermediate filaments.
3. a Microvilli contain mostly actin filaments; cilia and flagella have microtubules;
axons also contain microtubules but their shape is mostly supported by intermediate
filaments; and the nuclear lamina contains lamins, a type of intermediate filament.
4. c RNA does NOT return to the nucleus after entering the cytoplasm; mRNA that is not
being translated (i.e., inactive ribosomes) is degraded in the cytoplasm. Most of the
proteins found in mitochondria are coded by nuclear DNA and are synthesized on
free polyribosomes in the cytoplasm. Newly synthesized proteins that have a
nuclear recognition sequence will be transported to the nucleus through nuclear
pores. All protein synthesis, or mRNA translation, occurs in the cytoplasm. If the
protein being synthesized has a signal peptide, then polyribosomes will attach to the
membrane of the rER and the nascent protein will enter the rER lumen during
synthesis. This occurs for lysosomal proteins, proteins that will be excreted, and
those incorporated into the plasma membrane. Otherwise the polyribosomes remain
free in the cytoplasm during synthesis of proteins destined for the cytoplasm,
peroxisomes, mitochondria, and nucleus.
5. c The nuclear lamina is composed of lamins, a type of intermediate filament; is located
between heterochromatin and the inner nuclear membrane; becomes phosphorylated
during mitosis leading to its breakdown and the breakdown of the nuclear envelope;
organizes the nuclear matrix including position of the nucleolus; anchors
heterochromatin to the inner nuclear membrane
6. c Coated vesicles are also found in association with transport through Golgi cisterna
and to and from rER to Golgi and from Golgi to lysosomes. The coat can be clathrin,
coatomer-coated or caveolin. The latter is also associated with non-receptor mediated
endocytosis. Coated vesicles such as clathrin-coated vesicles, concentrate specific
receptors on the membrane for internalization. Bacteria are phagocytized by
membranes, not coated pits.
7. d Anaphase – needs no explanation.
8. b Microtubules move organelles via the motor proteins kinesin and dynein.
9. e Nucleoli reform following mitosis due to the nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) -
regions of ten interphase chromosomes (pairs of 5 different chromosomes, human)
that contain the genes that encode rRNA – the NOR help reorganize the nucleoli
following cell division
10. b Peroxisomes replicate by growth and fission therefore they are self-replicating.
Acid hydrolases are enzymes found in lysosomes. Mitochondria synthesize some, but
not all, of their own protein. The TGN is involved in the sorting of proteins destined
for secretion, lysosomes, and the plasma membrane. Although peroxisomes and
mitochondria have similar functions only mitochondria produce ATP.
11. c Translation of an mRNA sequence into an amino acid sequence is not the end of
forming a protein. Post-translational processing of proteins involves the modifications
occurring on newly translated proteins so that they can be functional and useful for
the cell. Post-translational processing includes folding into the three dimensional
conformation, binding of co-factors, association with partner protein chains and
covalent modifications such as glycosylation. The Golgi plays an important role in
post-translational processing of lysosomal proteins, the addition of the mannose-6-
phosphate group to lysosomal proteins occurring in the cis-Golgi being one example.
12. a The nuclear lamina is made up of a type of intermediate filaments known
collectively as lamins. Nexins are associated with gap junctions; not all of the
different lamins that make up the nuclear lamina associate with chromosomes during
mitosis; lamins do not control traffic through the nuclear pores; and lamins are part of
the nuclear matrix.
13. d Electron transport or the respiratory chain occurs on the inner mitochondrial
membrane. All the other functions occur in the matrix.
14. b
15. b
16. e The extra-nucleolar DNA is the DNA outside of the nucleolus. In other words,
nuclear DNA.
17. c
18. c
19. b
20. c
