Essential Cell Biology - Chapter 12

A hungry yeast cell lands in a vat of grape juice and begins to feast on the sugars there, producing carbon dioxide and ethanol in the process: C6H12O6 + 2ADP + 2P + H+ = 2CO + 2CH3CH2OH + 2ATP + 2H2O Unfortunately, the grape juice is contaminated with proteases that attack some of the transport proteins in the yeast cell membrane, and the yeast cell dies. Which of the following could account for the yeast cell's demise? (a) toxic buildup of carbon dioxide inside the cell (b) toxic buildup of ethanol inside the cell (c) diffusion of ATP out of the cell (d) inability to import sugar into the cell

D

Below is a list of molecules with different chemical characteristics. Knowing that all molecules will eventually diffuse across a phospholipid bilayer, select the option below that most accurately predicts the relative rates of diffusion of these molecules (fastest to slowest). alanine estrogen propanol sodium (a) alanine > propanol > sodium > estrogen (b) sodium > propanol > alanine > estrogen (c) estrogen > propanol > sodium > alanine (d) estrogen > propanol > alanine > sodium

D

Both excitatory and inhibitory neurons form junctions with muscles. By what mechanism do inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent the postsynaptic cell from firing an action potential? (a) by closing Na+ channels (b) by preventing the secretion of excitatory neurotransmitters (c) by opening K+ channels (d) by opening Cl- channels

D

Cells make use of H+ electrochemical gradients in many ways. Which of the following proton transporters is used to regulate pH in animal cells? (a) light-driven pump (b) H+ ATPase (c) H+ symporter (d) Na+ exchanger

D

Figure Q12-55 illustrates changes in membrane potential during the formation of an action potential. What membrane characteristic or measurement used to study action potentials is indicated by the arrow? Figure Q12-55 (a) effect of a depolarizing stimulus (b) resting membrane potential (c) threshold potential (d) action potential

D

Match the numbered lines in the diagram with the following structures: A. nerve terminal B. cell body C. axon D. dendrite

1=B 2=D 3=C 4=A

Cells use membranes to help maintain set ranges of ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Which of the following ions is the most abundant outside a typical mammalian cell? Na+ (a) Na+ (b) K+ (c) Ca2+ (d) Cl-

A

Figure Q12-56 illustrates changes in membrane potential during the formation of an action potential. What membrane characteristic or measurement used to study action potentials is indicated by the arrow? Figure Q12-56 (a) effect of a depolarizing stimulus (b) resting membrane potential (c) threshold potential (d) action potential

A

Pumps are transporters that are able to harness energy provided by other components in the cells to drive the movement of solutes across membranes, against their concentration gradient. This type of transport is called _____________. (a) active transport. (b) free diffusion. (c) facilitated diffusion. (d) passive transport.

A

The stimulation of a motor neuron ultimately results in the release of a neurotransmitter at the synapse between the neuron and a muscle cell. What type of neurotransmitter is used at these neuromuscular junctions? (a) acetylcholine (b) glutamate (c) GABA (d) glycine

A

Transporters, in contrast to channels, work by ________________. (a) specific binding to solutes. (b) a gating mechanism. (c) filtering solutes by charge. (d) filtering solutes by size

A

Voltage-gated channels contain charged protein domains, which are sensitive to changes in membrane potential. By responding to a threshold in the membrane potential, these voltage sensors trigger the opening of the channels. Which of the following best describes the behavior of a population of channels exposed to such a threshold? (a) Some channels remain closed and some open completely. (b) All channels open completely. (c) All channels open partly, to the same degree. (d) All channels open partly, each to a different degree.

A

Which of the following channels would not be expected to generate a change in voltage by movement of its substrate across the membrane where it is found? (a) an aquaporin (b) a sodium channel (c) a calcium channel (d) a proton channel

A Aquaporin where they channels are found in the plasma membrane of some cells, facilitate diffusion of water across the membrane. Because water is an uncharged molecule, its movement would not be expected to alter the voltage across the membrane.

We can test the relative permeability of a phospholipid bilayer by using a synthetic membrane that does not contain any protein components. Some uncharged, polar molecules are found to diffuse freely across these membranes, to varying degrees. Which of the following has the lowest rate of diffusion across an artificial membrane? Why? (a) glucose (b) water (c) glycerol (d) ethanol

A Glucose will have a negligible degree of diffusion across the synthetic bilayer. Not only is it polar, it is also larger than other molecules that are able to diffuse across the membrane.

In a method called patch-clamping, a glass capillary can be converted into a microelectrode that measures the electrical currents across biological membranes. Which of the following is not true about the patch-clamp method? (a) The glass capillary adheres to a "patch" of membrane through the application of suction. (b) The aperture in the glass capillary used to make a microelectrode is about 1 µm in diameter. (c) If the experimental conditions are held constant, fluctuations in electrical currents across the patch of membrane are still observed. (d) Single-channel patch-clamp recordings have demonstrated that gated membrane channels will only open and close in response to specific stimuli.

D

K+ leak channels are found in the plasma membrane. These channels open and close in an unregulated, random fashion. What do they accomplish in a resting cell? (a) They set the K+ concentration gradient to zero. (b) They set the membrane potential to zero. (c) They disrupt the resting membrane potential. (d) They keep the electrochemical gradient for K+ at zero.

D

Negatively charged ions are required to balance the net positive charge from metal ions such as K, Na, and Ca. Which of the following negatively charged ions is the most abundant in outside the cell and which ion does most oftenneutraliz ( written parentheses)? (a) Cl-(Ca2+ ) (b) PO4(3-) (K+) (c) PO3- (Ca2+4) (d) (Na+Cl-)

D

Which of the following statements best reflects the nature of synaptic plasticity? (a) New synapses are created due to the postnatal generation of neurons. (b) Synaptic response changes in magnitude depending on frequency of stimulation. (c) There is a change in the type of neurotransmitter used at the synapse. (d) Neuronal connections are pruned during normal development.

B

You have generated antibodies that recognize the extracellular domain of the Ca2+-pump. Adding these antibodies to animal cells blocks the active transport of Ca2+from the cytosol into the extracellular environment. What do you expect to observe with respect to intracellular Ca2+? (a) Ca2+-pumps in vesicle membranes keep cytosolic calcium levels low. (b) Ca2+-pumps in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane keep cytosolic calcium levels low. (c) Ca2+-pumps in the Golgi apparatus keep cytosolic calcium levels low. (d) Ca2+ concentrations in the cytosol increase at a steady rate.

B

When the net charge on either side of the plasma membrane is zero, what else is true? (a) There an equal number of K+ is ions on each side of the plasma membrane. (b) The K+ leak channels are open. (c) The electrochemical potential across the membrane is zero. (d) The resting membrane potential is between -20 mV and -200 mV.

C

Which of the following gated ion channels are involved in inhibitory synaptic signaling? (a) voltage-gated Na+ channels (b) voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (c) glycine-gated Cl- channels (d) glutamate-gated cation channels

C

Which of the following statements about resting membrane potential is not true? (a) The resting membrane potential for most animal cells is 0 mV, because the positive and negative ions are in balance. (b) The resting membrane potential for most animal cells is positive, because Na+ ions are so plentiful inside cells. (c) The resting membrane potential for most animal cells is negative, because the inside of the cell is more negatively charged than the outside of the cell. (d) At the resting membrane potential, no ions enter or exit the cell.

C

Fill in the blank with the appropriate type of gating for the ion channel described. You can use the same type of gating mechanism more than once. A. The acetylcholine receptor in skeletal muscle cells is a(n) _________ ion channel. B. _________ ion channels are found in the hair cells of the mammalian cochlea. C. _________ ion channels in the mimosa plant propagate the leaf-closing response. D. _________ ion channels respond to changes in membrane potential. E. Many receptors for neurotransmitters are _________ ion channels.

ligand-gated Stress-gatedion Voltage-gated Voltage-gated ligand-gated

A molecule moves down its concentration gradient by __________________ transport, but requires __________________ transport to move up its concentration gradient. Transporter proteins and ion channels function in membrane transport by providing a __________________ pathway through the membrane for specific polar solutes or inorganic ions. __________________ are highly selective in the solutes they transport, binding the solute at a specific site and changing conformation so as to transport the solute across the membrane. On the other hand, __________________ discriminate between solutes mainly on the basis of size and electrical charge. active hydrophilic noncovalent amino acid hydrophobic passive amphipathic ion channels transporter proteins

passive active hydrophilic Transporter proteins ion channels

Neurons communicate with each other through specialized sites called __________________. Many neurotransmitter receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that open transiently in the __________________ cell membrane in response to neurotransmitters released by the __________________ cell. Ligand-gated ion channels in nerve cell membranes convert __________________ signals into __________________ ones. Neurotransmitter release is stimulated by the opening of voltage-gated __________________ in the nerve-terminal membrane. acetylcholine receptor GABA receptor postsynaptic Ca2+ channels K+ channels presynaptic chemical Na+ channels synapses electrical

synapses postsynaptic presynaptic chemical electrical Ca2+ channels

Indicate whether the statements below are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false. A. Gap junctions are large pores that connect the cytosol to the extracellular space. B. Aquaporin channels are found in the plasma membrane, and allow the rapid passage of water molecules and small ions in and out of cells. C. The ion selectivity of a channel depends solely on the charge of the amino acids lining the pore inside the channel. D. Most ion channels are gated, which allows them to open and close in response to a specific stimulus, rather than allowing the constant, unregulated flow of ions.

A. False. Gap junctions are used to connect the cytosol of adjacent cells, allowing the sharing of ions and small metabolites. Because gap junctions are large channels, if they were open while facing the extracellular environment, the ability of the plasma membrane to serve as a permeability barrier would be greatly reduced. B. False. Charged molecules (even protons, which are very small) are not able to pass through aquaporins. C. False. Selectivity depends on three parameters: the diameter, shape, and charge of the ion trying to pass through the pore of the channel. D. True.

Which of the following occur without coupling transport of the solute to the movement of a second solute? (a) import of glucose into gut epithelial cells (b) export of Ca2+ from the cytosol (c) export of H+ from animal cells for pH regulation (d) the export of Na+ from cells to maintain resting membrane potential

B

Indicate whether the statements below are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false. A. Facilitated diffusion can be described as the favorable movement of one solute down its concentration gradient being coupled with the unfavorable movement of a second solute up its concentration gradient. B. Transporters undergo transitions between different conformations, depending on whether the substrate-binding pocket is empty or occupied. C. The electrochemical gradient for K+ across the plasma membrane is small. Therefore, any movement of K+ from the inside to the outside of the cell is driven solely by its concentration gradient. D. The net negative charge on the cytosolic side of the membrane enhances the rate of glucose import into the cell by a uniporter.

A. False. This describes coupled transport, which is one type of active transport. Facilitated diffusion can also be called passive transport, in which a solute always moves down its concentration gradient. B. True. C True. D. False. Glucose is an uncharged molecule, and its import is not directly affected by the voltage difference across the membrane if glucose is being transported alone. If the example given were the Na/glucose symporter, we would have to consider the charge difference across the membrane.

Indicate whether the statements below are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false. A. Neurotransmitters are small molecules released into the synaptic cleft after the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. B. Action potentials are usually mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. C. Voltage-gated Na+channels become automatically inactivated shortly after opening, which ensures that the action potential cannot move backward along the axon. D. Voltage-gated K+ channels also open immediately in response to local depolarization, reducing the magnitude of the action potential.

A. True. B. False. Action potentials are usually mediated by voltage-gated Na channels. C. True. D. False. Voltage-gated K++channels respond more slowly than the voltage-gated Na channels. Because voltage-gated K+ channels do not open until the action potential reaches its peak, they do not affect its magnitude. Instead, they help to restore the local membrane potential quickly while the voltage-gated Na+ channels are in the inactivated conformation.

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false. A. CO2 and O2 are water-soluble molecules that diffuse freely across cell membranes. B. The differences in permeability between artificial lipid bilayers and cell membranes arise from variations in phospholipid content. C. Transporters are similar to channels, except that they are allowing proteins as well as smaller organic molecules to pass through them. D. Cells expend energy in the form of ATP hydrolysis so as to maintain ion concentrations that differ from those found outside the cell.

A. True. B. False. The primary difference between cell membranes and artificial membranes is that cell membranes have proteins responsible for creating a selective permeability, which varies with the location and function of the membrane. C. False. Transporters work by changing conformation after specific binding of the solute to be transported. Channels exclude molecules on the basis of size and charge, but do not depend on specific recognition of the molecules moving through. D. True.

Indicate whether the statements below are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false. A. The extracellular concentration of Ca2+4 is approximately 10-fold higher than the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytosol. B. The low cytosolic Ca2+ concentration sensitizes the cell to an influx of Ca, ensuring a rapid response to environmental stimuli. C. Cytosolic Ca2+concentration is kept low by the use of chelators such as EDTA. D. The primary mechanism by which Ca2+ acts as a signaling molecule is by increasing the net charge in the cytosol.

A. True. B. True. C False. Ca2+ concentrations in the cytosol are kept low by the action of ATP-driven calcium pumps in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and the plasma membrane. D. False. Ca2+binds tightly to many proteins in the cell, which in turn changes their activity. This interaction is the primary mechanism by which Ca2+ signaling occurs.

Circle the molecule in each pair that is more likely to diffuse through the lipid bilayer. A. amino acids or benzene B. Cl- or ethanol C. glycerol or RNA D. H2O or O2 E. adenosine or ATP

A. benzene (small nonpolar versus larger uncharged) B. ethanol (polar versus charged) C. glycerol (small polar versus very large, highly charged) D. O2 (nonpolar versus polar) E. adenosine (polar versus highly charged)

Active transport requires the input of energy into a system so as to move solutes against their electrochemical and concentration gradients. Which of the following is not one of the common ways to perform active transport? (a) Na+-coupled (b) K+-coupled (c) ATP-driven (d) light-driven

B

Although the extracellular environment has a high sodium ion concentration and the intracellular environment has a high potassium ion concentration, both must be neutralized by negatively charged molecules. In the extracellular case, what is the principal anion? (a) HCO- 3 (b) Cl3- (c) PO4 (d) OH

B

Ca2+-pumps in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum are important for _____________. (a) maintaining osmotic balance. (b) preventing Ca2+ from altering the activity of molecules in the cytosol. (c) providing enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum with Ca2+ ions that are necessary for their catalytic activity. (d) maintaining a negative membrane potential.

B

Cells use membranes to help maintain set ranges of ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Which of the following ions is the most abundant inside a typical mammalian cell? (a) Na+ (b) K+ (c) Ca2+ (d) Cl-

B

Figure Q12-54 illustrates changes in membrane potential during the formation of an action potential. What membrane characteristic or measurement used to study action potentials is indicated by the arrow? Figure Q12-54 (a) effect of a depolarizing stimulus (b) resting membrane potential (c) threshold potential (d) action potential

B

Ion channels are classified as membrane transport proteins. Channels discriminate by size and charge. In addition to Na+, which one of the following ions would you expect to be able to freely diffuse through a Na+ channel? Explain your answer. (a) Mg2+ (b) H+ (c) K+ (d) Cl-

B

The Nernst equation can be used to calculate the membrane potential based on the ratio of the outer and inner ion concentration. In a resting cell, membrane potential is calculated taking only K+ ions into account. What is V when Co = 15 mM and Ci = 106 mM? (a) 438.1 mV (b) -52.7 mV (c) 52.7 mV (d) -5.3 mV

B

When using the Nernst equation to calculate membrane potential, we are making several assumptions about conditions in the cell. Which of the following is not a good assumption? (a) The temperature is 37°C. (b) The plasma membrane is primarily permeable to Na+. (c) At rest, the interior of the cell is more negatively charged than the exterior. (d) K+ is the principal positive ion in the cell.

B

Which of the following best describes the behavior of a gated channel? (a) It stays open continuously when stimulated. (b) It opens more frequently in response to a given stimulus. (c) It opens more widely as the stimulus becomes stronger. (d) It remains closed if unstimulated.

B

Approximately, how many distinct synapses are established on the dendrites and cell body of a motor neuron in the spinal cord? (a) tens (b) hundreds (c) thousands (d) millions

C

Cells use membranes to help maintain set ranges of ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Which of the following negatively charged ions is not primarily used to buffer positive charges inside the cell? (a) PO4 (b) OH- (c) Cl- (d) HCO-

C

Figure Q12-53 illustrates changes in membrane potential during the formation of an action potential. What membrane characteristic or measurement used to study action potentials is indicated by the arrow? Figure Q12-53 (a) effect of a depolarizing stimulus (b) resting membrane potential (c) threshold potential (d) action potential

C

If Na+ channels are opened in a cell that was previously at rest, how will the resting membrane potential be affected? (a) The membrane potential is not affected by Na+. (b) It becomes more negative. (c) It becomes more positive. (d) It is permanently reset.

C

Some cells have aquaporins—channels that facilitate the flow of water molecules through the plasma membrane. For these cells, what regulates the rate and direction of water diffusion across the membrane? (a) aquaporin conformation (b) resting membrane potential (c) solute concentrationson either side of the membrane (d) availability of ATP

C

The Na+ ATPase is also known as the Na+ pump. It is responsible for maintaining the high extracellular sodium ion concentration and the high intracellular potassium ion concentration. What happens immediately after the pump hydrolyzes ATP? (a) Na+is bound (b) ADP is bound (c) the pump is phosphorylated (d) the pump changes conformation

C

The Aeroschmidt weed contains an ATP-driven ion pump in its vacuolar membrane that pumps potentially toxic heavy metal ions such as Zn2+ and Pb into the vacuole. The pump protein exists in a phosphorylated and an unphosphorylated form and works in a similar way to the Na++ pump of animal cells. To study its action, you incorporate the unphosphorylated form of the protein into phospholipid vesicles containing K+ in their interiors. (You ensure that all of the protein molecules are in the same orientation in the lipid bilayer.) When you add Zn2+ and ATP to the solution outside such vesicles, you find that Zn2+ is pumped into the vesicle lumen. You then expose vesicles containing the pump protein to the solutes shown in Table Q12-25A. You then determine the amount of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated ATP-driven ion pump protein in each sample. Your results are summarized in Table Q12-25B, where a minus sign indicates an absence of a type of protein and a plus sign indicates its presence. What would you expect to happen if you treat vesicles as in lane F, but before determining the phosphorylation state of the protein, you wash away the outside buffer and replace it with a buffer containing only Zn2+? (a) Nothing will happen. (No Zn2+ will move into the vesicle; no K will move out of the vesicle; the phosphorylation state of the protein will not change.) (b) No Zn2+ will move into the vesicle; no K+ will move out of the vesicle; the protein will become unphosphorylated. (c) A small amount of Zn2++ will move into the vesicle; no K will move out of the vesicle; the phosphorylation state of the protein will not change. (d) A small amount of Zn2++ will move into the vesicle; no K will move out of the vesicle; the protein will become unphosphorylated.

D

The stimulation of auditory nerves depends on the opening and closing of channels in the auditory hair cells. Which type of gating mechanism do these cells use? (a) voltage-gated (b) extracellular ligand-gated (c) intracellular ligand-gated (d) stress-gated

D

Which of the following is required for the secretion of neurotransmitters in response to an action potential? (a) neurotransmitter receptors (b) Na+-K+ pumps (c) voltage-gated K+ channels (d) voltage-gated Ca2+ channels

D

Which of the following statements about GABA receptors is not true? (a) They are located on postsynaptic membranes. (b) They are ligand-gated channels. (c) They inhibit synaptic signaling. (d) They promote neuronal uptake of Na+

D

Which of the following statements does not accurately describe the events involved in the propagation of an action potential? (a) An initial influx of Na+ through a small cluster of channels causes local depolarization of the membrane. (b) Local depolarization causes nearby Na+channels to open. (c) Channels in depolarized regions of the membrane are inactivated until the resting membrane potential is reestablished. (d) The opening of transmitter-gated K+ channels helps to repolarize the membrane.

D

Which of the following statements is true? (a) Amoebae have transporter proteins that actively pump water molecules from the cytoplasm to the cell exterior. (b) Bacteria and animal cells rely on the Na+-K pump in the plasma membrane to prevent lysis resulting from osmotic imbalances. (c) The Na+-K pump allows animal cells to thrive under conditions of very low ionic strength. (d) The Na+-K pump helps to keep both Na+and Cl- ions out of the cell.

D

It is thought that the glucose transporter switches between two conformational states in a completely random fashion. How is it possible for such a system to move glucose across the membrane efficiently in a single direction?

The binding of glucose into the binding site of the transporter is not a random event. The affinity between the glucose molecule and the transporter governs the binding event: transporter + glucose ↔ transporter-glucose so at high glucose concentrations, the complex formation is favored; at low glucose concentrations, dissociation of glucose from the transporter is favored. So, as long as there is a large concentration gradient, efficient transport can occur by the simple rules of binding equilibria.

For an uncharged molecule, the direction of passive transport across a membrane is determined solely by its __________________ gradient. On the other hand, for a charged molecule, the __________________ must also be considered. The net driving force for a charged molecule across a membrane therefore has two components and is referred to as the __________________ gradient. Active transport allows the movement of solutes against this gradient. The transporter proteins called __________________ transporters use the movement of one solute down its gradient to provide the energy to drive the uphill transport of a second solute. When this transporter moves both ions in the same direction across the membrane, it is considered a(n) __________________; if the ions move in opposite directions, the transporter is considered a(n) __________________. antiport coupled membrane potential ATP hydrolysis electrochemical symport concentration light-driven uniport

concentration membrane potential electrochemical coupled symport antiport

The action potential is a wave of __________________ that spreads rapidly along the neuronal plasma membrane. This wave is triggered by a local change in the membrane potential to a value that is __________________ negative than the resting membrane potential. The action potential is propagated by the opening of __________________- gated channels. During an action potential, the membrane potential changes from __________________ to __________________. The action potential travels along the neuron's __________________ to the nerve terminals. Neurons chiefly receive signals at their highly branched __________________. anions hyperpolarization neutral axon less positive cytoskeleton ligand pressure dendrites more synaptic vesicle depolarization negative voltage

depolarization less voltage negative positive axon dendrites