Cell Structure & Function

Summary

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A. Nucleus Largest organelle Controls cell activity by regulating protein synthesis. Nuclear Envelope o DOUBLE MEMBRANE o Numerous nuclear pores Chromosomes/Chromatin o Roughly 2 metres of genetic material in a chromosome. o Condense from chromatin into thicker chromosomes prior to cell division. o Chromatin loosely coiled as it is actively expressed. Nucleolus o Not membrane bound o One or more withink a nucleus o Large amounts of DNA, RNA, proteins. o rRNA synthesised here. B. Ribosomes Site of protein synthesis. Large subunit Small subunit
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Freely floating in cytosol or attached to rough ER. Made up of rRNA and protein. Prokaryotes 70S ribosome Eukaryotes 80S ribosome Extensive network of membranous tubules and sacs called cisternae Outer membrane of the nuclear envelope is continuous with the ER. Rough ER o Site of protein synthesis Proteins meant for secretion out of cell or targeted for insertion membrane E.g. Digestive enzymes, hormones, insulin o Proteins enter cisternal space, then fold into native conformation o Enzymes on membrane synthesise phospholipids. into plasma
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C. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Smooth ER o Site of lipid synthesis o E.g. membrane phospholipids, steroid hormones, cholesterol o Detoxification of drugs and poisons E.g. alcohol Liver cells rich in smooth ER
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o Carbohydrate synthesis o Cisternal space stores Ca2+, which is involved in muscle contraction. D. Golgi Apparatus Stack of flattened, membrane-bound cells called cisternae Golgi vesicles Convex cis face

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Receives proteins from rough ER, lipids from smooth ER. Modifies received substances. Sorts and targets completed materials to various parts of cell or for secretion out of cell.

E. Lysosome Single membrane Contains hydrolytic (digestive) enzymes. o E.g. Proteases, lipases, nucleases Acidic contents Synthesised on rough ER, sent for Golgi Apparatus for further processing, then bud off to form lysozymes. Digestion endocytosis o Food material, foreign particles (e.g. bacteria) o Useful products from digestion may be assimilated into cytoplasm. Rest released by exocytosis into external medium. Autophagy o Breakdown of unwanted structures within the cell E.g. old organelles Products from digestion recycled in cytoplasm. of material taken in by

Trans face

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Cis face

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Release of enzymes out of cell o Breakdown of extracellular content E.g. sperm entering ovum

Autolysis o Self-digestion of cell. A.k.a. suicide.

F.Plasma Membrane G. Mitochondrion DOUBLE MEMBRANE

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o Intermembrane space Smooth outer membrane Cristae from infolding of inner membrane Matrix Site of aerobic respiration ATP formation DOUBLE MEMBRANE Thylakoids A stack of thylakoids = granum Stroma fluid within chloroplast o Circular DNA o Ribosomes o Enzymes o Starch grains (sometimes) Thylakoids contain chlorophyll Single membrane Fluid filled sac Animal smaller, more numerous Plants large central vacuole (contains cell sap) Storage o Food o Pigments (plants) o Waste products Latex in plants
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H. Chloroplast

I. Vacuole (not very important)

J. Cytoskeleton (not very important) Network of protein fibres Structural support for cell Controls cell movement o E.g. Phagocytosis by white blood cells Anchorage and movement directing for organelles o E.g. ER to Golgi Apparatus Page 5 of 7 summarised by aii

Consists of: o Microtubules o Microfilaments o Intermediate filaments

K. Centrioles A PAIR of cylindrical structures right angles to each other each contains nine triplets of microtubules in a Found within region called centrosome (know difference between centrosome and centrioles) Located close to nucleus During cell division, they replicate and move to opposite ends of the cell *** all eukaryotic cells have a centrosome, but not all centrosomes have centrioles help organize microtubules on which chromosomes move during nuclear division.
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ring

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Structure Nucleus Mitochondria Chloroplast Lysosome Centrioles Ribosome Plasma membrane

Average Length (m) 5 10 3 10 5 10 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.02 = 20 nm 0.0075 = 7.5nm

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