Cell Structure

Vocabulary to know:
• Prokaryotic: cell contains no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles,
but does have ribosomes and DNA

• Eukaryotic: cell has a nucleus, organelles, ribosomes and DNA

• Unicellular: made up of one cell

• Multicellular: made up of many cells

• Autotroph: an organism that makes its own food

• Heterotroph: an organism that depends on others for food

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Why Cells are Important
• What happens inside cells causes us to be who we are.
(Genes)

• All diseases start at the level of the cell.

• All growth and life starts from a single cell.

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Cell Theory

• Cells were discovered in 1665 by Robert Hooke.

• Early studies of cells were conducted by
• Mathias Schleiden (1838) - plant cells
•Theodor Schwann (1839) - animal cells

•Schleiden and Schwann proposed the Cell Theory.

• Cell Theory
1. All organisms are composed of cells.

2. Cells are the smallest living things.

3. Cells arise only from pre-existing

cells.

• All cells today represent a continuous line

of descent from the first living cells.
Two Cell Types
1. Prokaryotic Cells

2. Eukaryotic Cells

• Defined by cell type

1. Eukarya
• Plantae
• Fungi
• Animalia
Eukaryotic
• Protista

2. Bacteria

3. Archaea Prokaryotic
Types of cells

Prokaryote Eukaryote
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1. Prokaryotic Cells (Prokaryotes)
• Simplest, “primitive” cells with:
• NO membrane-bound organelles (“little organs”)
• NO nucleus: genetic material floats free in cell
• pro = before
• karyo = nucleus
• Example: Bacteria (Kingdom: Monera)
• 2 Subdivisions:
• 1. Eubacteria – “true bacteria”
• 2. Archaea – “ancient bacteria”
• Extremophiles: live in harsh environments
(hot, acidic, salty)

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 Prokaryotic Cell

• Prokaryotic Cell Characteristics:

• Simplest organisms - simple internal
organization

• Very small (1 to 10 microns across)

• Genetic material in the nucleoid
• No membrane-bound organelles
• Capsules
• Cytoplasm
Prokaryotic Cell Structure
• Prokaryotic cell walls
• Surround and protect cell and maintain cell shape

• Composed of polysaccharides (sugar coated)

• Bacterial cell walls composed of peptidoglycan

• Archaean cell walls lack peptidoglycan.
The Glycocalyx
• Develops as a coating of repeating
polysaccharide units, protein or both

• Protects the cell

• helps the cell adhere to the environment

• Differ among bacteria in thickness,

organization, and chemical composition
• Slime layer- a loose shield that protects
some bacteria from loss of water and
nutrients
• Capsule- glycocalyx is bound more tightly
to the cell and is denser and thicker
Bacterial Shapes, Arrangements, and Sizes
• Three general shapes
• Coccus- roughly spherical
• Bacillus- rod-shaped
• Coccobacillus- short and plump
• Vibrio- gently curved
• Spirillum- curviform or spiral-shaped
• Pleomorphism- when cells of a single
species vary to some extent in shape
and size
2. Eukaryotic Cells (Eukaryotes)
• Eukaryotic Cell Characteristics:
• Unicellular or multicellular
• More complex organisms
• Eu = true karyo = nucleus • highly organized structure (compartmentalization)
known as endomembrane system
• Types of eukaryotes divided into 4 • Typically larger than prokaryote (10-100
kingdoms: microns)

1. Plantae 2. Fungi • Genetic material in the membrane-bound

3. Animalia 4. Protista nucleus
• Many membrane-bound organelles
• Cytoplasm
• Cytoskeleton 13
Eukaryotic Cells

Animal cell
Eukaryotic Cells

Plant cell
Plasma Membrane
• Contains cell contents

• Double layer of phospholipids & proteins

Eukaryotic Cells
Nucleus, Nucleolus, Nuclear Envelope
 Eukaryotic Cells
Nucleus
• Largest most definitive organelle in the cytoplasm
• Surrounded by a nuclear envelope composed of 2 phospholipid bilayers
• Stores the genetic material of the cell as long separate chains of DNA known as
chromosomes
• Cell DNA is organized with proteins to form chromatin
• Cell DNA is organized with proteins to form chromatin
- Chromosomes are tightly packed (condensed) with proteins inside the nucleus
into nucleosomes
- DNA is wound around histone proteins to resembles beads on a string
 Eukaryotic Cells
Nucleolus (plural, nucleoli) Nuclear Envelope
• Dark staining zone within the • Composed of an inner and outer
nucleus phospholipid bilayer
- the outer layer is continuous with the membrane
• Composed of RNA
of the endoplasmic reticulum - an organelle
• Synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) for protein synthesis

occurs here • Nuclear pores provide passage for

- rRNA is involved in the translation of proteins and rRNA into and out of the
DNA into protein nucleus
- DNA never leaves the nucleus
Eukaryotic Cells
Ribosomes

• Present in prokaryotic

and eukaryotic cells

• Composed of 2 subunits of

Ribosomal RNA and proteins.

• The two subunits associate to form complete Ribosomes

• Found in the cytoplasm and attached to internal membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum

• Important protein function is protein synthesis in cell = Translate the RNA code into Proteins

• Other types of RNA assist with protein synthesis:

- mRNA and tRNA

 Endomembrane System

• A series of membranes throughout the

eukaryotic cytoplasm

• Divides cell into compartments where

different cellular functions occur:
1. Endoplasmic Reticulum
2. Golgi Apparatus
3. Lysosomes
 Endomembrane System
1. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• Membranes that create a network of channels throughout the cytoplasm

• Membrane continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope

• Location for protein synthesis

• Two Sections of the ER

1. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
2. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Endomembrane System
Golgi Apparatus
• Flattened stacks of interconnected membranes folds
(cisternae) known individually as Golgi bodies
• Located peripheral to the nucleus and ER
• Function in packaging and distribution of materials to
different parts of the cell
• Synthesis of cell wall components
• Cis face of Golgi faces and receives products from the
ER
• Trans face of Golgi releases secretory vesicles
Endomembrane System
Lysosomes
• Membrane bound vesicles
containing digestive enzymes to
break down macromolecules
• Packaged and secreted by Golgi
apparatus
• Function to destroy cells or foreign
matter that the cell has engulfed by
phagocytosis
 Endomembrane System
Vacuoles
• ‘Blank spaces’
• Membrane-bound structures with a variety of functions depending on cell type
• Functions of the vacuoles include:
• Isolating materials that might be harmful or a threat to the cell
• Containing waste products
• Containing water in plant cells
• Maintaining internal hydrostatic pressure or turgor within the cell
• Maintaining an acidic internal pH
• Containing small molecules
• Exporting unwanted substances from the cell
 Mitochondria

• ‘Power house of the cell”

• Present in all types of

eukaryotic cells

• Contain oxidative metabolism enzymes

for the chemical reactions of cellular respiration

- the transferring of energy within macromolecules to ATP

 Mitochondria Structure
• Surrounded by 2 membranes:
1. Smooth outer membrane
2. Folded inner membrane with layers (cristae)
- intermembrane space is located between the two membranes
- matrix within the inner membrane

• Similar in structure and function to chloroplasts of photosynthesis

• Contain their own DNA (Mitochondrial DNA)

- Produce some essential proteins
- Mitochondria undergo their own division
 • Organelles present in cells of plants and some other
Chloroplasts eukaryotes (Kingdom Protista)
• Contains Chlorophyll for photosynthesis
• Surrounded by 2 membranes
- Inner membrane forms sacs known as thylakoids
- Stacks of thylakoids are known as Grana
 Cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton

• Network of protein fibers found in all

eukaryotic cells

• Supports the shape of the cell

• Keeps organelles in fixed locations

• Helps move materials within the cell

 Cytoskeleton
• Three Fiber Types of Cytoskeleton:

1. Actin Filaments – responsible for cellular contractions,

crawling, “pinching”
- Composed of actin protein subunits

2. Microtubules – provide organization to the cell and move

materials within the cell
- Composed of tubulin protein subunits

3. Intermediate Filaments – provide structural stability

- Composed of vimentin protein subunits
Extracellular Structures
• Extracellular structures:
• Cell Walls:
• plants
• fungi
• some protists

• Extracellular Matrix
• surrounding animal cells
What about Viruses?
-Are they alive?
• PROS • CONS
– Have genetic material (DNA or RNA) • Cannot grow or replicate without
– Can replicate (with host) host (dormant)
– Have a protein coat • Are not cells

What do you think?

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Viruses
• NOT ALIVE!!!

• Made of DNA (or RNA) surrounded by

a protein coat

• Are NOT cells & cannot grow

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Extra slides
For Learning
Kingdom: Archaea
• Cell Structure: prokaryotic (no nucleus)

• Unicellular

• They can make their own food by a process called

chemosynthesis, or they can consume food.
(autotroph/heterotroph) Yellowstone Nat’l Park Hot Springs

• Reproduction: asexual by binary fission

• FYI:
• Typically found in extreme environments

• Thought to be the most primitive organisms on Earth 38

Kingdom: Bacteria
• Cell Structure: prokaryotic (no nucleus)

• Unicellular

• Autotrophic (chemosynthesis & photosynthesis) or

heterotrophic

• Reproduction: mostly asexual by binary fission, though

some can reproduce sexually by conjugation.

• FYI:
• Not all bacteria are harmful to humans

• They come in many shapes

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• Used for biotechnology
Kingdom: Protists
• Cell Structure: eukaryotic Unicellular

• Autotrophic (photosynthesis) or heterotrophic

• Reproduction: mostly asexual (binary fission), but

some sexual (conjugation)

• FYI:
• Mostly found in moist environments

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Kingdom: Fungi
• Cell Structure: eukaryotic Multicellular

• Heterotrophic- they’re decomposers

• Reproduction: asexual or sexual

• FYI:
• Some fungi can be harmful (Athlete’s foot, ringworm)

• Others are useful: yeast, edible mushrooms

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Kingdom: Plants

• Cell Structure: eukaryotic

• Multicellular

• Autotrophic (photosynthesis)

• Reproduction: mostly sexual

• FYI:
• Carnivorous plants are NOT heterotrophs, they can also do
photosynthesis.

• Self-pollination is NOT asexual reproduction

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Kingdom: Animals
• Cell Structure: eukaryotic

• Multicellular

• Heterotrophic

• Reproduction: mostly sexual

• FYI:
• Some animals can reproduce asexually
(regeneration, budding, fragmentation)- ex.:
starfish

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