AP Biology: Study Guide: Cell Structure and Function

Part I: Cell Structure

1. Compare and Contrast a Prokaryotic and a Eukaryotic Cell.

emphasize the 4 components that a cell must have to stay alive

(DNA, Cell membrane, Ribosomes, Cytoplasm). You must know the
differences as well.

* Know how a prokaryotic cell does each of the functions of

eukaryotic organelles.
-No nucleus, but it still has DNA to code for proteins that control the
activities of the cell.
-No mitochondria, still can do glycolysis or rudimentary cellular
respiration in the cytoplasm
-No ER- enzymes in the cytosol can facilitate the modification and
assembly of proteins. (Not very efficient)
-move with cilia and flagella
-No chloroplasts, but can still do basic photosynthesis in the
cytoplasm. It is just inefficient.
2. Compare and Contrast a Plant and Animal Cell.

Plant has chloroplasts, cell wall, and central vacuole. The Animal cell
has lysosomes and centrioles. Everything else is the same. Plant
cells are generally larger then animal cells.

Be able to tell the difference between chloroplasts and mitochondria

in a cell diagram.
3. Be able to identify and describe the function of each of the following
structures.
a. Nucleus: stores and protects the DNA
b. Nucleolus: Makes ribosomes
c. Ribosomes: Free, they make proteins for use inside the cell.
Attached: they make proteins for export or cell membrane.
d. Rough ER: modifies the protein as it moves from sac to sac.
e. Smooth ER: lipid production, detoxification of drugs and
poisons, storage of Ca+ for muscle cells.
 f. Golgi Bodies: packages and modifies the protein or lipid made
in the cell for export.
g. Vesicles: small membrane sacs that transport products around
the cell
h. Plasma Membrane
i. Vacuole: Provides turgor pressure in plant cells. Stores many
different substances (starch in potatoes, water in leaves, etc.)
j. Lysosome: Full of enzymes that break down other substances
in the cell. apoptosis: programmed cell death
k. Peroxisome: break down fatty acids so they can be used as a
food source. Detoxify alcohol using hydrogen peroxide.
Produce hydrogen peroxide
l. Mitochondria Glucose to ATP
m. Chloroplasts Formation of glucose

++Look back at your flowchart assignment and see how the organelles
work together to make proteins, Lipids, or Energy.

4. Describe the structure and function of the cytoskeleton.

the cytoskeleton is made up of microtubules, intermediate filaments

and microfilaments. It help give structure to the cell. Allows for
movement of organelles, movement of the cell itself

5. What structures are made from microtubules in eukaryotic cells.

 Centrioles, flagella 9x2 arrangement, cilia, etc (These are used for
movement primarily)
6. What is the role of plasmodesmata in the plant cell.

Openings in the cell wall that allow communication and flow of

molecules between plant cells.

7. Describe the endosymbiont theory.: theory that mitochondria and

chloroplasts once lived as prokaryotic bacteria. Evidence: They have
 their own DNA, They replicate on their own. Circular dna like
bacteria, double membrane with the inner more prokaryotic and the
exterior more eukaryotic, same size as bacteria.

Part II: Membrane Structure

1. Describe the structure of the fluid mosaic model of the plasma

membrane.

phospholipid bilayer, carrier proteins, channel proteins, enzymatic,

cell recognition (glycoproteins), Receptor or signal transduction
proteins. (Integral proteins and peripheral proteins)

2. As cells get larger, what happens to the surface area to volume ratio?
Why do cells have to be small?
 The surface area to volume ratio decreases, volume increases faster
than surface area. They have to stay small so they can have enough
cell membrane exposed to move the needed materials in and out of
the cell
3. How are the phospholipids arranged in the cell membrane? As a
bilayer with the hydrophilic heads facing out and the hydrophobic tails
facing in.
4. What is the role of cholesterol in the cell membrane? Helps to
stabilize the cell membrane and give it fluidity, but also ensuring it
does not become too fluid. The amount of cholesterol does not
change a lot as temperature increases or decreases.

5. As temperatures increase and decrease, how does the structure of

the phospholipid bilayer change to prevent it from becoming too fluid
or viscous.
 As it cools you get more unsaturated, as it warms you get more
saturated.
6. Describe the role of each of the cell membrane proteins below:
a. Carrier proteins: opens and closes as it moves a molecule
through the cell membrane.(2 conformations)
b. Channel proteins: an open tube that is specific, can be gated
(voltage gated ion channeles) (Both help move charged, polar,
or large molecules across)
c. Glycoproteins: cell recognition(glycolipids)
d. Cell receptor proteins: send signal inside the cell
e. Enzymatic proteins: facilitate chemical reactions
7. Know the difference between integral proteins and peripheral
proteins. How does the structure of the integral proteins allow it
transverse the cell membrane? Integral pass through the cell
membrane. They have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
allowing them to stay embedded in the membrane. Peripheral
proteins attach to the outer part of the cell membrane.
8. What type of particles can pass directly through the cell membrane?
Examples? small nonpolar like oxygen and carbon dioxide.
9. Compare the processes of Diffusion, Facilitated Diffusion, and Active
transport. You must know the proteins involved and give an example
of each.
 Diffusion is passive and requires no energy. Facilitated diffusion is
passive and requires no energy, but it uses proteins (Channel or
carrier) to move charged or larger molecules through the membrane.
Active transport goes against the gradient and requires energy. It
requires the use of carrier proteins, proton pumps or other proteins.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLE OF TRANSPORT: PROTON PUMPS

10. In relation to osmosis, describe a hypotonic, isotonic, and
hypertonic solution. In a hypotonic solution you have a weaker solute
outside the cell, so water moves into the cell and it gets larger. In a
hypertonic solution you have a stronger solute outside the cell so
water leaves the cell and it gets smaller. In an Isotonic solution the
concentrations are equal, so you have an equal flow in and out of the
cell.

11. If you place a cell in a hypertonic, isotonic, or hypotonic

solution, what will happen to the cell?

12. If you place 2 dialysis bags containing 0.3M and 0.6 M

respectively in distilled water, which one will have increased in size
the most? The 0.6M, there is a large concentration gradient ( will put
a graph on the board to show this graphically)
13. Differentiate between exocytosis release of molecules,
pinocytosis the cell pinches in and brings in extracellular fluid forming
a vesicle, and phagocytosis forms pseudopodia that wrap around an
engulf large particles. All need energy LAST TWO ARE FORMS OF
ENDOCYTOSIS
14. Be prepared to answer osmosis questions like the ones on the
osmosis worksheet we reviewed in class.
 15. Be able to calculate the water potential in a given solution, and
then be able to determine the direction in which the water will flow.
Question: What has a higher water potential 0.1M NaCl, 0.1 M
MgCl2, or 0.1 M Glucose Answer: Remember the equation Ψs = -
iCRT. I = the number of particles that will form when it dissolves in
water. Glucose will = 1, NaCl will = 2, and MgCl2 = 3. So the highest
water potential will be achieved with glucose.

Answer the Question below.

A cell that has a 0.4 M MgCl2 solution is in equilibrium with a

surrounding solution that is composed of a 0.2 MgCl2 solution at 25C.
What is the Pressure potential in the cell?

Part III: Neurons

1. Be able to identify and know the function of a neuron, and the following parts: dendrites, axon,
myelin sheath, nodes of Ranvier.
Dendrites move the signal toward the cell body.
Axon sends the signal to the next neuron
Myelin sheath insulates the neuron allowing better conduction of the signal
Nodes of Ranvier are spaces between the myelin sheath were ion channels open further
propagating the signal.
2. Place the following types of neurons in the correct order: Interneurons, sensory neurons, motor
neurons. Sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons.
3. In a neuron at rest, what are the charges inside and outside the cell? Where is there more K+
ions and Na+ ions? + outside, - inside, salty banana
4. Is the resting neuron more permeable to K+ or Na+ ions? It is more permeable to K+ ions, more
flow out. Very little sodium in helping sustain the – charge inside
5. Describe how the sodium potassium pump works in maintaining the resting potential in a cell.
It pumps 3 Na+ ions out of the cell, while bringing 2 K+ ions in the cell. Net is inside stays
negative. Stress this is active transport. We are setting up a concentration gradient.
6. Describe in detail how nerve impulse is sent down the axon of a nerve cell.
1. An impulse is received and some Na+ move into the cell causing depolarization.
2. If the deplorization reaches -55mv, then the Na+ voltage gated channels will open and Na
floods into the neuron
3. The signal moves down the axon
 4. At 45mv the Na channels close, and the k channels open causing K to leave the cell and the
neuron to repolarize. (Slight hyperpolarization) restoring the resting potential
5. The sodium potassium pump fully maintains the resting potential.
7. When the sodium channels open, what happens to the voltage across the neuron? It flips What
happens when the K+ channels open and the Sodium channels close? repolarizes
8. Describe how a signal crosses the synapse between 2 neurons. A action potential hits the end of
a neuron, causing Ca+ ion channels to open. This stimulates the release of neurotransmitters
that move across the synapse and bind to receptors on the next neuron. This binding initiates a
signal on the next neuron.

9. difference