Structure and Functions of Cell Organelles
syllabus
Cell organelles and their functions
Organelle Function
DNA Storage controls and regulates the activities of the
Nucleus cell and carries the DNA
Mitochondrion Energy production
Signal transduction between the cell membrane and the
Cytosol nucleus and organelles
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) Lipid, hormone and cholestral production
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) Protein production; in particular for export out of the cell
Golgi apparatus Protein modification and export
Peroxisome Lipid Destruction; contains oxidative enzymes
Lysosome Protein destruction
Ribosomes Decodes mRNA message and protein synthesis
Nucleolus Production of ribosomal subunits
Vacuole Storage and disposal of various substances
Maintain their shape and internal organization also
Cytoskeleton provides mechanical support
Convert light energy into chemical energy via the
Chloroplast photosynthetic process
Introduction
• In the year 1945 the ribbon like membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum were
first seen in the cytoplasm of chick embryo cells.
• These are membrane bound channels, seen in the form of a network of delicate
strands and vesicles in the cytoplasm.
• These are membranous cell organelles.
• These form an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles and cisternae within
cells.
• ER are considered as one of the components of cytoskeleton along with
microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments.
• These were first observed by Porter, Claude and Fullman in (1945) as a network.
• The term ”Endoplasmic reticulum” was first used by Porter and Fullman (1952).
Introduction
.
Location
• Present in almost all eukaryotic cell.
• The ER often occupies most of the cytoplasm.
• Origin of endoplasmic reticulum - At present manner of origin of the
endoplasmic is not definitely known. The most concrete hypothesis is
that the ER is “budded” off from the nuclear envelope (wischnitzer,
1974).
• The ER appears to arise from the outer membrane of the nuclear
envelope by out folding , or from the plasma membrane by in folding.
• The smooth ER seem to arise from the rough ER by detachment of
ribosomes.
Physical Structure
The ER is 3-dimensional intracellular network.
It is formed of three types of element:
1. Cisternae
2. Tubules
3. Vesicles
1. Cisternae:
• These are flattened , unbranched, sac-like element.
• They lie in parallel to one another.
• They bear ribosomes on the surface that, therefore, appears rough.
• It contain glycoproteins named ribophorin-I & ribophorin-II that bind the
ribosomes.
Physical Structure
2. Tubules
• These are irregular branching element which form a network along with
other element.
• These are often free of ribosomes.
3. Vesicles
• These are oval and rounded ,vacuole like element.
• These are also free of ribosomes.
• All the element of ER freely communicates with one another, and
contain a fluid called endoplasmic matrix, in the ER lumen.
Physical Structure
Molecular structure
The membrane of ER are composed of two layers of
phospholipid molecules sandwiched by two layers of proteins
molecules like other membrane in the cell wall.
Types of Endoplasmic Reticulum
There are two basic morphological types of ER namely
1. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum.
2. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum.
Types of Endoplasmic Reticulum
1. ROUGH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULIM (RER)
• The surface of the RER is studded with ribosome, giving it a rough appearance.
• It mainly consists of cisternae.
• The membrane of the RER forms large double membrane sheets which is located
near and continuous with the outer layer of the nuclear envelope.
• RER is very important in the synthesis and packaging of proteins.
• Binding site of the ribosome on the RER is called translocon
Types of Endoplasmic Reticulum
2. SMOOTH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULIM (SER)
Smooth ER Smooth ER is an arrangement of tubules and vesicles.
• The size and structure of the SER varies between the cells.
• There are no ribosome’s attached to the membrane surface.
• The SER indirectly connected to the nuclear envelope
Mechanism of Action
• The ribosomes that become attached to the endoplasmic reticulum
synthesize all trans membrane proteins.
• Most secreted proteins are stored in the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and
endosomes.
• Translation pauses and the ribosomes complex binds to the RER translocon
Mechanism of Action
Protein Transport
• As proteins are formed in the endoplasmic reticulum, they are
transported through the tubules toward proteins of the SER that lie
nearest to Golgi apparatus.
• At this point, small transport vesicles composed of small envelopes of
smooth ER continually break away and diffuse to the deepest layer of
Golgi apparatus.
• Inside this vesicles are the synthesized proteins and transported
Mechanism of Action
Transport vesicles
• They are surrounded by coating protein called COP I, COP II.(Coat Protein complex)
• COP II targets vesicles to the Golgi apparatus.
• Transparent proteins from the RER to Golgi apparatus.
• This process is termed as anterograde transport.
• COP I transports proteins from the cis end of the Golgi complex back to the RER. This
process is termed as retrograde transport.
Mechanism of Action
• Second method of transport out of the endoplasmic reticulum involves areas
called membrane contact sites.
• Membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles are held
together, allowing the transfer of lipid and other small molecules.
Function
FUNCTION OF RER-
Host for Ribosomes- The RER provides space and ribophorins for the attachment of
ribosomes to itself.
Surface for protein synthesis.
Formation of Glycoprotein- Linking of sugars to for glycoprotein starts in the RER
and is completed in Golgi complex.
Synthesis of precursors- The RER produce enzyme precursors for the formation of
lysosomes by Golgi Complex.
Smooth ER formation- The RER gives rise to the smooth ER by loss of ribosomes.
Function
FUNCTION OF SER
• Functions in lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism,
and detoxification and is especially abundant in mammalian liver and
gonad cells.
• It also synthesizes phospholipids. Cells which secrete these products,
such as those in the testes, ovaries, and skin oil glands have a great
deal of smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Function
Detoxification-The SER brings about detoxification in the liver
•
Detoxification-The SER brings about detoxification in the liver , i.e., converts
harmful materials (drugs, poisons) into harmless ones for excretion by the
cell.
• Formation of organelles- The SER produces Golgi apparatus , lysosomes and
vacuoles.
• It also carries out the attachment of receptors on cell membrane proteins
and steroid metabolism.
• In muscle cells, it regulates calcium ion concentration.
• The smooth endoplasmic reticulum also contains the enzyme glucose-6-
phosphatase, which converts glucose-6-phosphate to glucose, a step
in gluconeogenesis.