2 The Cell and Its Organelles

Cell -basic unit of life

-discovered by Robert Hooke

-Bacteria are unicellular (consists of a single cell)

-Humans are multicellular

 have an estimated 100 trillion cells

 typical cell size is 10µm

 typical cell mass is 1 nanogram

-The largest known cell is an unfertilized ostrich egg cell

Prokaryote: two Greek words (Pro - before; Kary - nucleus)

 Have simpler structures

 No membrane - bound organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, ER, golgi apparatus)

 Most are unicellular (single - celled) organisms

 Almost all are microscopic

 Some prokaryotes have a capsule

-Capsule is a slimy, outermost layer of the prokaryotic cell that prevents it from drying out under
adverse conditions and it also serves for defense providing added protection against being
engulfed by other microorganism (I.e. white blood cell)

-Prokaryotic cell walls are composed of peptidoglycan.

 Carbohydrate by nature that provides rigid framework that supports the cell and maintains
its shape

-Prokaryotic DNA is a single, long, circular molecule and is not surrounded by a nuclear envelope;
no proteins are associated with prokaryotic DNA.

- Prokaryotes also have plasmids.

 DNA molecule that bears genes that provides resistance to antibiotics

-Some prokaryotes have specialized structures

 Flagella - single filament, aids in movement

 Pili - hairlike appendages that help prokaryotes adhere to surfaces

Eukaryotes

-Generally larger and have complex structures

-contain membrane-bound compartments

-presence of a CELL NUCLEUS

-eukaryotic DNA is organized in one or more linear molecules, called CHROMOSOMES

associated with HISTONES (DNA wrapping protein)

-Nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane

PARAMETERS OF COMPARISON PROKARYOTES EUKARYOTES

Typical organism Bacteria, Archaea Protists, fungi, plants, animals

Typical size -1-10µm -10-100µm (sperm cells, apart from

the tail, are smaller)

Type of nucleus Nucleoid region; no real nucleus Real nucleus with double membrane

DNA Circular (usually) Linear molecules (chromosomes)

with histone proteins

RNA/ Protein synthesis Coupled in cytoplasm RNA- synthesis inside the nucleus
protein synthesis in cytoplasm

Ribosomes 50s + 30s 60s + 40s

Cytoplasmatic structure Very few structures Highly structured by

endomembranes and a cytoskeleton

Cell movement Flagella made of flagellin Flagella and cilia containing

microtubules; lamellipodia and
filopodia containing actin

Mitochondria None One to several thousand

(though some lack mitochondria)

Chloroplasts None In algae and plants

Organization Usually single cells Single cells, colonies, higher

multicellular organisms with
specialized cells

Cell division Binary fission (simple division) Mitosis (fission or budding)

Meiosis

Cell Parts and Functions

 Cell Membrane

-serves to separate and protect a cell from its surrounding environment

-made mostly from a double layer of lipid-hydrophobic fat-like molecules and hydrophilic
phosphorus molecules

-Location: around the cell

 Nucleus

-”control center”, is a membrane-enclosed organelle

-contains most of the cell’s genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA
molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes

-maintain the integrity of the genes and to control the activites of the cell by regulating gene
expression

 Nucleolus

-non-membrane bound structure composed of proteins and nucleic acids found within the
nucleus

-much needed in protein synthesis and contains the DNA templates for rRNA

-Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is transcribed and assembled within the nucleolus

 Cytoplasm

-enclosed within the cell membrane

-part of the cytoplasm that is not held within organelles is called cytosol

-Cytosol: a complex mixture of cytoskeleton filaments,dissolved molecules and water

 Chromatin --- Chromosomes

-Chromatin are denser threads found in the nucleoplasm; at cell division, it shortens to form
the chromosomes

-contains genetic information/traits

-Location: in nucleus

 Organelles

-small structure inside the cell

 -composition of a cell

-each play a unique, distinct and vital role in different cellular mechanisms

 Ribosomes

-components of cells that make proteins from amino acids

-workhorses of protein biosynthesis - the process of translating mRNA into protein

-ribosomes are made from complexes of RNAs and proteins

Two types:

-smaller subunit binds to the mRNA

-larger subunit binds to the tRNA and the amino acids

Ribosomes according to location:

1. Free ribosomes -can move about anywhere in the cytosol

-excluded from the cell nucleus and other organelles

2. Membrane-bound ribosomes -in a region of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) called

the “rough ER”

ADD INFO: Gluthathione in the cytosol acts as an antioxidant

 Vacuole

-serve as a temporary storage area

-a fluid filled membrane - bounded sac within the cytoplasm that contains a solution of salts,
ions, pigments and other materials

-occupies 90% of the volume of the cell

-Tonoplast - vacuolar membrane

-Location: in cytoplasm

 Cytoskeleton

-cellular “scaffolding” or “skeleton” contained within the cytoplasm and is made of proteins
 -Function: support the structure of a cell and transport materials/organelles throughout the cell

-the highway of the cell

-made of microtubules (thin hollow cylinders) and microfilaments (thin solid cylinders)

-Location: inside the cell

 Golgi Body (aka “dictyosome”)

-Golgi apparatus - collective term for Golgi body

-process and package macromolecules, such as:proteins and lipids

-particularly important in the process of proteins for secretion

-forms a part of the cellular endomembrane system

 Mitochondria

-described as “cellular power plants/ powerhouse of the cells” because they generate most of
the cell’s supply of ATP, used as a source of chemical energy

-signaling, cellular differentiation, cell death, control of the cell cycle, cell growth

 Vesicle -bubble of liquid within a cell

- store, transport or digest cellular products and waste

-involved in metabolism

-enzyme storage

-act as chemical reaction chambers

Five Types:

1. Vacuoles “cell scavenger”

-food vacuoles are used in phagocytosis

2. Lysosomes

-contain digestive enzymes used to break down substances in the cell into smaller
compounds

3. Transport Vesicle

-can move molecules between locations inside the cell

4. Secretory Vesicle
 -contain materials that are to be excreted from the cell

 Centrosome

-serves as the main microtubules organizing center of the animal cell

-associated with the nuclear membrane during interphase of the cell cycle

-In mitosis, the nuclear membrane breaks down and the centrosome nucleated
microtubules can interact with the chromosomes to build the mitotic spindle

 Centriole

-very important part of the centrosome involved in the organization of the mitotic spindle and in
the completion of cytokinesis

 Cilia

-short hair-like projections

-used for movement

-Location: outside the cell

 Flagella

-long whip-like tail

-used for movement

-Location: outside the cell

 Chloroplast

-traps sun’s energy and makes food

-Location: in plant cells

 Cell wall

-protects and supports the plant cell

-composed mainly of cellulose

-prevents water loss

-Location: outer layer of plant cells