ANAT 416 Epithelial Stem Cells and Differentiation: Patterns and Functions

What is a characteristic of epithelial cells that undergo Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)?

Increased cell-matrix adhesion
Retention of apical-basal polarity
Loss of apical-basal polarity (correct)
Maintenance of cell-cell adhesion

What type of stem cell has the potential to differentiate into many closely related cell types?

Totipotent stem cell
Unipotent stem cell
Bipotent stem cell
Multipotent stem cell (correct)

What is the term for the process by which epithelial cells undergo a change in phenotype to become mesenchymal cells?

Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET)
Stem Cell Renewal
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) (correct)
Cellular Differentiation

What is the role of transit amplifying cells in stem cell differentiation?

Rapidly dividing progeny of stem or progenitor cells (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which stem cells differentiate into specialized cells with unique functions?

Stem cell differentiation (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of cell-cell adhesions in epithelial cells?

To connect to the cytoskeleton (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the technique used to track the lineage of stem cells and their progeny?

Lineage tracing (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which protein complex is responsible for maintaining apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells?

Crumbs complex (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of epithelial cells that allows them to slide past each other?

Dynamic adhesions (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of junction is responsible for cell-cell adhesion in epithelial cells?

Adherens junction (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the cytoskeleton in epithelial cells?

To connect adhesion molecules (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of losing apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells?

Tumorigenesis (D) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of cancers arise from epithelial tissues?

80% (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of tight junctions in epithelial cells?

Separation of apical and lateral membranes (B) Signup and view all the answers

Where is the nucleus typically located in epithelial cells?

At the bottom of the cell (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the apical membrane in epithelial cells?

Absorption and secretion (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which epithelial cells undergo a transition to a mesenchymal phenotype?

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the formation of a lumen in epithelial cells?

Lumen formation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the myoepithelial layer in the mammary gland during pregnancy?

Contracting to squeeze milk down the milk ducts (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of labeling K14+ cells in the embryonic mammary gland?

To understand the origin of both basal and luminal cells in the adult gland (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of injecting stem cells into the embryo mammary gland?

Formation of basal cells (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the location of the majority of cancer cells in the mammary gland?

Luminal layer (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of K8 in the mammary gland?

Marker for luminal cells (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of K14 in the embryonic mammary gland?

Markers for basal cells (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does aPKC play in membrane dynamics?

Phosphorylating other complexes to remove them from the plasma membrane (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which protein is essential for apical constriction during tissue folding to form a tube?

Scrib (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Scrib complex in neural tube closure?

Promoting apical constriction and cell intercalation (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the Par complex in membrane dynamics?

Recruiting proteins and pushing other complexes off the plasma membrane (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which protein is involved in splitting the membrane into apical and basal domains?

aPKC (B) Signup and view all the answers

How is neural tube closure disrupted in the 'Circletail' mouse model?

Through a mutation in the Scrib protein leading to impaired apical constriction (C) Signup and view all the answers