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AP Biology Cell Cycle and Cell Communication Study Guide
I. Vocabulary
-Binary Fission
-Circular Chromosome
-Cell Cycle
-Daughter cells
-Interphase
-G0
-G1
-S
-G2
-Mitosis
-Prophase
-Metaphase
-Anaphase
-Telophase
-Cytokinesis
-Cyclin
-Cyclin Dependent Kinase
-Phosphorylation
-Density-Dependent
Inhibition
-Anchorage Dependence
-Cancer
-Benign
-Malignant
-Metastasis
-Cell Communication
(autocrine and juxtacrine)
-Direct Communication
-Local Communication
(paracrine)
-Long Distance
Communication (hormonal)
-Signal Transduction Pathway
-Reception
-Transduction
-Response
-Ligand
-G-Protein Pathway
-G-Protein Linked Receptor
-G-Protein
-Tyrosine-Kinase Pathway
-Ion Channel Receptors
-Intracellular Receptors
-Secondary Messengers
II. Cell Cycle
Big Picture: The cell cycle is a process that all normally-dividing cells must undergo to ensure that the
product of cell division is fully functional and everything within the new cells is proper. Cells must go
through the steps of the cell cycle to achieve this goal. Normally-dividing cells must also stop at 3 cell
cycle checkpoints to ensure that all materials required for the appropriate steps have been created or
copied. If cells are found to be dysfunctional, they will be destroyed (or sent into G0 if that is
possible). Cells that do not follow the rules of the cell cycle and the cell cycle checkpoints can develop
into cancer.
Be aware of the three basic processes that all cells (both prokaryotic and eukaryotic) must undergo to
complete cellular reproduction and division.

Binary Fission: What is binary fission?
o How do prokaryotic cells divide so quickly?
o Identify two structural components of prokaryotic cells that allow them to go through
binary fission.

Eukaryotic Cell Division
o What do we call the cells that result from eukaryotic cell division?
o What is chromatin?
o What are chromosomes?

Cells that go through division
o What are somatic cells?
 Are these cells considered diploid or haploid?
 What process for cell division do these cells go through?
o What are germ cells?
 Are these cells considered diploid or haploid?
 What process for cell division do these cells go through?

Interphase: Briefly describe interphase and understand why it is important.
o What happens during the G1 phase?
o What happens during G0 phase?
o What happens during S phase?
o What happens during G2 phase?

Mitosis: Be able to recognize and describe the 4 major steps in mitosis
o Prophase
o Metaphase
o Anaphase
o Telophase
 What is cytokinesis? Why is it important for cells to go through this process?

Cell Cycle Checkpoints: understand the overall importance of the cell cycle checkpoints. Realize
that without these checkpoints, the body would not be able to catch as many errors as it does
during cell division.
o G1 Checkpoint: the “point of no return”
o G2 Checkpoint: check for appropriate replication of DNA
o M phase checkpoint: Have all replicated chromosomes lined up properly in the cell?

Cell Cycle Regulation: cells must be regulated so that they do not divide uncontrollably. This
regulation is carried out by specialized protein molecules and enzymes found within the cell.
The timing of this process is incredibly important and determines how the cell is regulated.
o
o
o

What are cyclins? When are they normally produced by cells?
What is Cyclin Dependent Kinase (CdK)? When is this normally produced by cells?
What is Maturation Promoting Factor (MPF)? When does this become active in normal
cells?
Cancer: provide a good biological definition for cancer and recognize why cancer cells are
different than normal cells. How do cancer cells treat the cell cycle?
o What is density-dependent inhibition? How does this affect cell division?
o What is anchorage dependence? How does this affect cell division?
o Understand the difference between benign and malignant tumors.
 What is special about malignant tumors?
III. Cell Communication and the Signal Transduction Pathway
Big Picture: cell communication and the signal transduction pathway are two of the most important
processes that take place in living organisms. Without these processes, none of the cells in your body
would be able to communicate and you would not be able to carry out any of the vital processes
involved with life. Cells can communicate in three ways and each is important in its own right. The
overall process of cell communication follows a series of three steps that are the same for most all
types of communication. The only parts of the signal transduction pathway that change are the
protein receptor and the cellular response.

Types of Cell Communication
o What is direct cell communication? Autocrine? Juxtacrine?
o What is local cell communication? Paracrine? Synaptic?
o What is long distance cell communication? Endocrine?
 Understand the difference between hormones and pheromones

Signal Transduction Pathway: be able to recognize the three major steps of the signal
transduction pathway. Understand that all cells use this to communicate, regardless of where
the message is coming from or going.
o What is reception?
 In order for a cell to receive a message they must come into contact with a
signal molecule. What do we call these signal molecules?
o What is transduction?
o What is a cellular response?

Specific Signal Transduction Pathways: be aware of the overall processes discussed below. Do
not worry about the specific steps or the names of specific molecules, as these will be given to
you on the test.
o G-Protein Pathway
 What is a G-Protein Linked Receptor?
 What is a G-Protein?
 What does the G-Protein activate in the cell?
o Tyrosine Kinase Pathway
 How many enzymes can be activated through this pathway?
 How is this pathway different than the other pathways discussed?
o Ion Channel Receptors
 How do these receptors differ from the others discussed in class?
 How is this pathway different?
o Intracellular Receptors
 How does this pathway differ from the others discussed in class?
o
Secondary Messengers: these allow for a signal to be amplified as it moves deeper into
the cell.
 How do secondary messengers differ from the other signal transduction
pathways?
Basic Signal Transduction Pathway
- Understand that by changing the protein receptor, you can change the pathway!
G-Protein Pathway
Tyrosine Kinase Pathway
Ion Channel Receptors
Intracellular Receptors
Secondary Messenger