Nucleus
Click to edit Master subtitle style By Prof. Dr. Safinaz Safwat Prof. Dr. Shefaa El Sawy 2009- 2010
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Characteristics of the Nucleus
Largest organelle in
the cell
Membrane-limited
compartment that stores the genetic information in all eukaryotic cells.
Location of
assembly of ribosomal subunits
Contains:
1. Nearly all of the DNA
Characteristics of the Nucleus
The nucleus does
NOT produce proteins; they are imported into the nucleus from the cytoplasm.
The nucleus directs
the process of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm by informational
Characters of nucleus
Site
Shape
Number
It usually resides in the center of the cell, and its shape often mimics the shape of the cell
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Sit It usually resides in the center e
of the cell
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It may be peripheral or basally situated
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Sha Usually spherical pe
but can be
The
shape of
Usually spherical but can be
Spindle-shaped fibroblast nuclei
Lobulated nuclei of white blood cells (neutrophils)
Numb The number of nuclei present in a cell can assist in er identifying the cell or tissue.
Usually only one nucleus per cell
but there are exceptions
Osteoclasts (O) are
multi-nucleated
No nuclei
are present in red blood cells
Muscle fiber is multinucleated
Liver cell is binucleated
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Components of the Nucleus
Nuclear envelope
Nucleoplasm
Chromatin
Nucleolus
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Components of the Nucleus
1- Nuclear Envelope formed by two lipid membranes 2- Chromatin both euchromatin and heterochromatin 3- Nucleolus
non-membranous, spherical, intranuclear structure
Components of the Nucleus - colloidal protein solution 4- Nucleoplasm
enclosed by the nucleus. Its also known as the nuclear sap or matrix.
Function:
1.
provides a medium for the rapid diffusion of metabolites and for the movement of different kinds of RNA
Nuclear envelope
1.
2.
Act as a barrier that separate the content of the nucleus from the cytoplasm sequestration of immature RNAs containing noncoding intervening sequences
Presents in an interphase cell & disintegrates durin cell division
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Nuclear Envelope
3 - Control movement of proteins between the nucleus & the cytoplasm (via nuclear pore) this leads to regulation of gene expression and DNA replication. 4- It provides the structural framework of the nucleus 5- It also assists in localizing location of Nucleus the chromatin
Nuclear Pore
Cytoplasm
Nuclear Envelope Components
It has a complex structure consisting of:
1. 2. 3.
Two concentric lipid bilayers (nuclear membranes) An underlying nuclear lamina Nuclear pore complexes.
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Nuclear Envelope Components
Nuclear Envelope (NE) is formed by two parallel membranes that surround the nucleus
inner membrane outer membrane
These membranes are separated by the perinuclear cisterna and are fused at the
Nuclear Envelope Components
Note nuclear pores (arrows) & bi-layered nuclear envelope
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Faces the cytoplasm Cytoplasmic
Outer Nuclear Membrane
surface possesses ribosomes as the outer nuclear membrane is continuous with rER membrane.
The perinuclear
cistern is continuous with the cisternae of the rER.
The ribosomes
synthesize the
Inner Nuclear Membrane
It is supported by a rigid network of intermedaiate filaments; lamins. The nuclear lamina
It is a fibrous
meshwork that provides structural support to the nucleus.
Underlies the inner
nuclear membrane
The nuclear lamins interact with chromosome s so it infuence chromosomal distribution and function within the nucleus
Lamins disassembled during mitosis and assembled when mitosis end.
Nuclear Pore within the nuclear envelope
Nuclear pores are
interruptions in the nuclear envelope where the outer and inner nuclear membranes fuse.
There number
varies from cell to other according of activity of the cell (3000-5000)
The nuclear pore is surrounded by nonmembranous structures (glycoproteins) embedded in its rim. These structures and the pore are called the nuclear pore complex
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- It is composed
of three ring-like arrays of proteins stacked on top of each other:
1 - Cytoplasmic ring:
located on the
rim of the cytoplasmic aspect of the nuclear pore.
It possesses
cytoplasmic filaments that
2- The spoke ring (middle ring):
formed of eight
similar units that project into the lumen of the nuclear pore as well as into the perinuclear cistern.
It anchors the glycoprotein components of the nuclear pore complex into the rim of the nuclear
3- Nuclear ring:
located on the rim
of the nucleoplasmic aspect of the nuclear pore.
A filamentous basket-like structure, the nuclear basket, appears to be suspended from the nuclear ring and protruding into the nucleoplasm.
Depending on the
size of the molecules, molecules Transport travel through NPC by 2 mechanisms
across the nuclear pore complex