Cell Modification
DIVINE GRACE L. FANGONILO
Subject Teacher
Cellular Modification
A. Apical Modification
➢ Cell modification found on the apical surface of
the cell. It is specialized to carry out functions
that occur at these interfaces, including
secretion, absorption, and movement of luminal
contents.
A. Apical Modification
1. Cilia
➢ Cilia are projections, usually short, hairlike
structures and a type of organelle seen on the
apical surface of epithelial cells. This assists in
the movement of material over the epithelial
surface in a manner parallel with the surface of
the epithelium.
A. Apical Modification
2. Flagella
➢ are long, whip-like structure that are formed by
microtubules protruding from the cell body of bacteria
and some eukaryotic cells.
➢ The primary function of a flagellum is that of
locomotion, but it also often functions as a sensory
organelle, being sensitive to chemicals and temperatures
outside the cell.
➢ Examples are the neuron axon and sperm cell.
Prokaryotic flagella
Figure 4.4x4
A. Apical Modification
3. Villi
➢ finger-like projections that arise from the epithelial
layer in some organs. They help to increase surface
area, allowing faster and more efficient absorption.
4. Microvilli
➢ are smaller projections than villi which functions
primarily on the efficient absorption of molecules.
A. Apical Modification
5. Pseudopods
➢ Temporary, irregular lobes formed by amoebas and some
other eukaryotic cells.
➢ It bulges outward to move the cell or engulf the prey. It
primarily consist of actin filaments and may also contain
microtubules and intermediate filaments.
➢ Pseudopods are used for motility and ingestion.
A. Apical Modification
6. Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM)
➢ The cell wall is the extracellular structure
in plant cells that distinguishes them from
animal cells. A compound secreted by the
cell on its apical surface.
The plant cell wall is made up of molecules
secreted by the cell called cellulose, a
polysaccharide compose of glucose units
A. Apical Modification
6. Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM)
➢ Collagen proteins are modified with
carbohydrates, and once they released from the
cell, they assemble into long fibers called
collagen fibrils.
- Collagen plays a key role in giving tissues
strength and structural integrity.
- In the extracellular matrix, collagen fibers
are interwoven with a class of carbohydrate-
bearing proteoglycans, which may be
attached to a long polysaccharide backbone.
A. Apical Modification
6. Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM)
➢ Integrins are key connector proteins which
are imbedded in the plasma membrane
➢ Fibronectin also can act as bridges between
integrins and other ECM proteins such as
collagen. On the other side of the
membrane, the integrins are link to the
cytoskeleton.
B. Basal Modification
Cell modification found on the basal surface of
the cell basement membrane.
1. Desmosomes – These allow for strong
attachment between cells or to a basement
membrane. Desmosomes attach to the
microfilaments of cytoskeleton made up of
keratin protein.
2. Hemidesmosomes - are like desmosomes in
terms of function, however, they attach the
epithelial cell to the basement membrane
rather than the adjacent cell.
C. Lateral Modification
➢ Cell modification found on the basal surface of
the cell. These are tight junctions, adhering
junctions and gap junctions.
➢ These structures consist of protein complexes
and induce connectivity between adjacent
epithelial cells, between cell and ECM.
➢ They can contribute to the barrier function of
epithelia and control the paracellular transport
C. Lateral Modification
1. Tight Junctions –
They are transmembrane proteins fused on
outer plasma membrane. They act as
barriers that regulate the movement of
water and solutes between epithelial
layers.
C. Lateral Modification
2. Adherens Junctions
Protein complexes that occur in cell to cell
junctions in epithelial and endothelial
tissues usually more basal than tight
junctions. It fastens cell to one another.
C. Lateral Modification
3. Gap Junctions –
➢ It is also known as communicating
junctions. These are specialized
intercellular connections between
multitude of animal cell-types.
➢ They directly connect the cytoplasm of two
cells, which allows various molecules, ions
and electrical impulses to directly pass
through a regulated gate between cells.
AGYAMANAK!