Understanding Cell Structure and Function
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SoweirdUnderstanding Cell Structure and Function
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SoweirdChapter Eight: Cellular Structure and Function
Lesson 8.2: Cell Structure
Cytoplasm: the portion of the cell outside the nucleus
• In eukaryotic cells, all cellular contents outside the nucleus
• In prokaryotic cells, all the cells’ contents
Organelles: specialized structure that performs important cellular
functions within a cell
• Specialized “little organs”
Nucleus: control center of the cell
• Acts like a main office in a large factory
• Nuclear pores which allow material to move in and out of the
nucleus (like a door or window)
• Contains nearly all the cell’s DNA and the coded instructions for
making proteins and other molecules
o Chromosomes (genetic information) are found here
o Nucleolus – small dense region where ribosomes are made
Much of the cell is devoted to the production and distribution of
proteins.
• Proteins carry out so many of the essential functions of living things
including the synthesis of lipids and carbohydrates
Ribosomes: cell organelle consisting of RNA and protein found
throughout the cytoplasm in a cell
• Proteins are assembled on ribosomes
• Ribosomes make proteins by coded instructions from your DNA
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): internal membrane system found in
eukaryotic cells
• Place where lipid components of the cell membrane are assembled
• Rough ER – this is where the synthesis of proteins are assembled
o It is given the name because the Rough ER has ribosomes
covering the surface.
o Newly made proteins leave the ribosomes and enter the Rough
ER where they can be chemically modified
• Smooth ER – the synthesis of lipids and detoxification of drugs
o Important role in the synthesis of carbohydrates
o Given the name because NO ribosomes are located on the
surface
Golgi apparatus: organelle in cells that modifies, sorts, and packages
proteins and other material from the endoplasmic reticulum for storage
in the cell or release outside the cell
• Looks like a stack of flattened membranes
• Think of this as a customization shop where proteins get its final
touches and are ready to leave the factory
o The proteins leave the factory in a vesicle (think of it like a car)
Vacuoles: cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts,
protein, and carbohydrates
• Large saclike, membrane-enclosed structures
• In plants – single large vacuole filled with fluid called a central
vacuole
Vesicles: stores and moves materials between cell organelles as well as to
and from the cell surface
• This is your vehicle that gets material to and from your destination
Lysosomes: cell organelle that breaks down lipids, carbohydrates, and
proteins into small molecules that can be used by the rest of the cell
• This is the clean up crew of the cell
o Perform the vital function of removing “junk” that might clutter
the cell and break down organelles that are “dying”
• Found manly in animal cells but can be found in some plant cells
• Rare but serious human diseases are linked to lysosome failure
o Tay-Sachs disease
Cytoskeleton: network of protein filaments in a eukaryotic cell that gives
the cell its shape and internal organization and is involved in movement
• Acts like a conveyor belt that moves materials from one part to the
other
• Help with movement like the cell flagella (males) and cilia (lungs)
Chloroplasts: organelle found in cells of plants and some other organisms
that captures the energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical
energy
• Contains the green pigment chlorophyll
• Animal cells do NOT contain chloroplasts
Mitochondria: cell organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in
food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use
• Mitochondrion – singular
• Powerhouse of the cell
• Nearly all of our mitochondria originate from the egg cell (you get
this from your mom!)
Cell wall: strong, supporting layer around the cell membrane in some
cells
• Support, shape, and protect the cell
o The wood of many trees in made of cell walls
• Plants and fungi
Lipid bilayer: flexible double-layered sheet that makes up the cell
membrane and forms a barrier between the cell and its surroundings
• Hydrophobic tail – water hating
• Hydrophilic head – water loving
Selectively permeable: property of biological membranes that allows
some substances to pass across it while others cannot
• Also called semipermeable membrane
• If a substance is able to cross, it is said to be permeable
• If a substance is not able to cross, it is said to be impermeable
Common questions
Powered by AIThe cytoskeleton provides structural support by maintaining the cell's shape and internal organization . Beyond structure, it also aids in intracellular transport, acting as a conveyor belt to move materials around the cell . Additionally, it facilitates cellular movement through structures like cell flagella and cilia, contributing to processes like respiration (through lungs) and reproduction (in males). These roles are essential for maintaining both the spatial organization and dynamic functionalities of the cell.
Lysosome failure can severely impact cellular health by allowing the accumulation of "junk" or cellular debris, which interferes with normal cellular operations . A specific example of a condition arising from lysosome failure is Tay-Sachs disease, a rare but serious disease caused by the inability to break down specific lipids, leading to their accumulation in the brain and nervous system, which is fatal . This failure highlights the importance of lysosomes in maintaining cellular cleanliness and metabolic balance.
The Golgi apparatus functions like a "customization shop" because it modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and other materials from the endoplasmic reticulum for storage in the cell or release outside of it . This analogy helps in understanding its role by depicting the Golgi apparatus as a location where proteins receive final touches before leaving in vesicles, similar to how products are finished and dispatched in a factory setting . This ensures proteins are properly processed and functional for their designated cellular or extracellular roles.
Chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis, capturing sunlight energy and converting it into chemical energy in the form of glucose, containing chlorophyll which makes them essential for energy conversion in plant cells . Mitochondria, commonly referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, convert the chemical energy stored in food into ATP, a more convenient form for cellular function . While chloroplasts are crucial for energy input in plant cells, mitochondria perform essential energy conversion in both plant and animal cells, highlighting their different yet complementary roles in cellular energy management.
The cell wall provides plant cells with additional protection, structural support, and rigidity compared to animal cells, which lack this feature . It helps maintain cell shape, resists osmotic pressure, and allows plants to grow upright, facilitating a static yet robust interaction with their environment, such as withstanding high wind or flooding conditions . This sturdiness enables plants to have a definitive shape and form (like wood), which is not seen in animal cells, influencing their adaptation and survival in diverse environmental conditions.
Vacuoles act as storage organelles for materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates, maintaining internal pressure and balance, particularly in plant cells with a large central vacuole . Vesicles, on the other hand, specialize in transport, moving materials between cell organelles or to and from the cell surface . While vacuoles store, vesicles shuttle; both ensure smooth intracellular operations by balancing storage needs and material transport, exhibiting a complementary relationship that is essential for cellular efficiency and resource management.
The lipid bilayer's selectively permeable nature arises from its hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads, forming a barrier that allows only certain substances to pass while keeping others out . This dual nature enables the cell to maintain a stable internal environment by controlling substance entry and exit, crucial for processes like nutrient uptake, waste removal, and communication with the extracellular environment . This selective permeability is vital for homeostasis and allows the cell to operate efficiently in varying external conditions.
Selectively permeable cell membranes significantly impact medical treatments, especially drug delivery, as they determine the efficacy of drug permeation into cells. For effective treatment, drugs must be designed to cross these membranes without disrupting cellular homeostasis . This requirement has led to the development of strategies like liposomes and nanoparticle carriers that mimic cell membranes or utilize specific transport mechanisms . An understanding of these membranes allows for designing targeted therapies that optimize drug delivery and minimize side effects, crucial for advancing pharmacological interventions.
The nucleus contains nearly all of the cell's DNA, which includes coded instructions for protein synthesis. These instructions are transcribed into mRNA, which exits the nucleus through nuclear pores . Ribosomes, consisting of RNA and protein, use the mRNA to assemble proteins . This collaboration is crucial for cellular function because proteins are responsible for performing numerous essential functions, including the synthesis of lipids and carbohydrates . Without precise protein synthesis, cells would be unable to maintain homeostasis or carry out their specialized activities.
The rough endoplasmic reticulum (Rough ER) is involved in the synthesis of proteins, as it has ribosomes on its surface where proteins are assembled and can be chemically modified . In contrast, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (Smooth ER) is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification of drugs, playing an important role in carbohydrate metabolism . The main difference lies in their functions and surface structure; Rough ER handles protein synthesis while Smooth ER is key for lipid production and detoxification.