Cell The Unit of Life

Cell: The Unit of Life
Unicellular organisms are capable of
 Independent existence
 Performing essential life processes
Anything less than a complete structure of cell is not capable of independent existence hence
cell is known as structural and functional unit of life.
Anton Von Leeuwenhoek first saw and described a live cell.
Robert Brown first discovered nucleus.
Cell Theory
Schleiden
- observed that plants are composed of different types of cell which form the tissues of the
plant
Schwann
- reported that all cells have a thin outer covering

- concluded that presence of cell wall is a unique character of plants
- proposed a hypothesis that all living organisms are composed of cells and products of cells
Rudolf Virchow
- explained that cells divided and new cells formed from preexisting cells (Omnis cellula-e
cellula).
Cell Theory
1. all living organisms are composed cells and products of cell

2. all cells arise from preexisting cells
Cells differ greatly in shape and size depending on the function they perform.
Mycoplasma – 0.3µm
Typical bacteria – 3-5µm
Human RBCs - 7µm
Prokaryotic Cell
- Include mycoplasma, PPLO (Pleuro Pneumonia like Organisms), bacteria, blue green algae.
- Generally smaller and multiply rapidly
- Although organization in prokaryotes is fundamentally similar, they still vary greatly in
shape, size and function.
Bacteria can be categorized in four basic shapes
 Bacillus (rod like)

 Coccus (spherical)
 Vibrio (comma shaped)
 Spirillum (spiral)
On the basis of differences in cell envelope and the manner in which they respond to Gram staining,
bacteria can be classified into
 Those which take up gram stain, Gram Positive.

 Those which don’t take up gram stain, Gram Negative.
Structure of Prokaryotic Cell

1. Nucleoid
Prokaryotic cells lack a well-defined nucleus due to absence of nuclear membrane. The genetic
material basically lies naked in the cytoplasm. This is known as Nucleoid.
2. Plasmids
In addition to the genomic /single chromosome/ circular DNA, prokaryotes have small circular DNA
outside the genomic DNA. These are known as Plasmids.
Plasmids are known to confer certain unique phenotypic character to such bacteria, such as
resistance to antibiotics.
3. Cell envelope
Most prokaryotes have a chemically complex cell envelope.
It consists of a tightly bound three layered structure
 Glycocalyx (Outer most)
- Thick and tough Capsule

- Lose sheath Slime layer
 Cell wall (Middle)
- Determines the shape of the cell

- Provides strong structural support
- Prevents bacteria from bursting or collapsing
 Cell membrane (innermost)
- Semi permeable in nature

- Interacts with outside world
- Structurally similar to that of eukaryotes
4. Mesosomes
Special membranous structure which are formed by the extension of cell membrane into the cell.
Can be in form of vesicles, lamellae or tubules
Functi on
- Cell wall formation

- DNA replication
- Distribution of daughter cells
- Respiration
- Secretion processes
- Increase surface area of plasma membrane
- Enzymatic content
5. Chromatophores
Membranous extension of cell membrane into cytoplasm which contains pigments.
Found in prokaryotes such as cyanobacteria.
6. Flagella (Surface structure)

Bacterial cells maybe motile or non-motile, if motile then they have a thin filamentous extension
from there cell wall called flagella.
Bacteria show a variety in no. and arrangement of flagella.
Bacterial flagella is composed of three parts
- Filament – longest portion which extends from the cell surface to outside
- Hook
- Basal body
7. Pilli (surface structure)

Do not help in motility
- Elongated tubular structure made of special proteins
8. Fimbriae (surface structure)

Do not help in motility
- Small bristle like fibres sprouting out of the cell

- Known to help attach bacteria to rocks in stream and also to host tissue
9. Ribosomes
Prokaryotic ribosomes are associated with plasma membrane of the cell.
Made up of two subunits – 50S and 30S which when present together form 70S prokaryotic
ribosomes.
Site of protein synthesis
Lack any membrane
Several ribosomes may attach to a single mRNA to form a chain called polyribosome or polysome.
The ribosomes of polysome translate mRNA into proteins.
10. Inclusion bodies

Reserve material in prokaryotes are stored in cytoplasm in the form of inclusion bodies.
Not bounded by any membrane system
Lie free in the cytoplasm
E.g. phosphate granules, cyanophycean granules and glycogen granules
Gas vacuoles are found in blue green algae, purple and green algae and green photosynthetic
bacteria.
Eukaryotic cell
- Include all protists, plants, animal and fungi.
- Exhibit extensive compartmentalisation due to presence of membrane bound organelle
- Their genetic material is organised in chromosomes
- Possess organised nucleus with nuclear envelope
Cell Membrane
Chemical studies on human RBC enabled scientists to deduce the possible structure of cell
membrane.
Cell membrane is composed of LIPIDS, PROTEINS & CARBOHYDRATES.
The ratio of protein and lipid in human erythrocyte (RBC) is 52% proteins and 40% lipids.
Lipids
The lipids in cell membrane are arranged in bilayer.
Within the bilayer, the lipids are arranged with polar head towards the outer side and the
hydrophobic tail towards the inner side. This ensures that the non-polar hydrophobic tail of
saturated hydrocarbons is protected from the aqueous environment outside.
The lipid component in cell membrane mainly consists of phosphoglycerides.
Proteins
Depending on the ease of extraction, membrane proteins can be classified as
 Peripheral proteins – lie on the surface of membrane

 Integral proteins – totally or partially buried in the membrane
Fluid mosaic model

Proposed by Singer and Nicholson
According to this, the quasi-fluid nature of lipids enables lateral movement of

proteins within the overall bilayer
This ability to move within the membrane is measured as its fluidity.
Functi ons of fl uid nature
- Cell growth
- Formation of intracellular junctions
- Secretions
- Endocytosis
- Cell division
Transportation across plasma membrane

- Imp function
- The membrane is selectively permeable to some molecules present on either side of it.
Passive transport
Movement of molecules across the membrane, along the concentration gradient (higher-> lower)
without expenditure of ATP.
Simple diffusion: Movement of neutral solutes across the selectively permeable membrane.
Osmosis: Movement of water from higher to lower concentration across the selectively permeable
membrane.
Acti ve transport
Movement of molecules across the membrane, against the concentration gradient, with expenditure
of ATP.
As polar molecules cannot pass through the nonpolar lipid bilayer, they require a carrier protein of
the membrane to facilitate their transport across the membrane.
A few ions or molecules are transported across the membrane against the concentration gradient.
For e.g. Na+/K+ pump
Cell Wall
Non-living rigid structure forms the outer covering for the plasma membrane of fungi and plants.
Functions:
- gives shape to the cell

- protects the cell from mechanical damage and infections
- helps in cell-to-cell interaction
- provides a barrier to undesirable macromolecules
Algae – cellulose, galactans, mannans, CaCO3
Plants – cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins and proteins.

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Cell: The Unit of Life

Unicellular organisms are capable of

Anton Von Leeuwenhoek first saw and described a live cell.

Robert Brown first discovered nucleus.

- reported that all cells have a thin outer covering

1. all living organisms are composed cells and products of cell

Typical bacteria – 3-5µm

Human RBCs - 7µm

Bacteria can be categorized in four basic shapes

 Bacillus (rod like)

 Those which take up gram stain, Gram Positive.

Structure of Prokaryotic Cell

It consists of a tightly bound three layered structure

 Glycocalyx (Outer most)

- Thick and tough Capsule

 Cell wall (Middle)

- Determines the shape of the cell

 Cell membrane (innermost)

- Semi permeable in nature

Can be in form of vesicles, lamellae or tubules

- Cell wall formation

Found in prokaryotes such as cyanobacteria.

6. Flagella (Surface structure)

Bacteria show a variety in no. and arrangement of flagella.

Bacterial flagella is composed of three parts

7. Pilli (surface structure)

- Elongated tubular structure made of special proteins

8. Fimbriae (surface structure)

- Small bristle like fibres sprouting out of the cell

Site of protein synthesis

Lack any membrane

The ribosomes of polysome translate mRNA into proteins.

10. Inclusion bodies

Not bounded by any membrane system

Lie free in the cytoplasm

E.g. phosphate granules, cyanophycean granules and glycogen granules

Cell membrane is composed of LIPIDS, PROTEINS & CARBOHYDRATES.

The lipids in cell membrane are arranged in bilayer.

The lipid component in cell membrane mainly consists of phosphoglycerides.

Depending on the ease of extraction, membrane proteins can be classified as

 Peripheral proteins – lie on the surface of membrane

Fluid mosaic model

According to this, the quasi-fluid nature of lipids enables lateral movement of

This ability to move within the membrane is measured as its fluidity.

Functi ons of fl uid nature

Transportation across plasma membrane

For e.g. Na+/K+ pump

- gives shape to the cell

Algae – cellulose, galactans, mannans, CaCO3

Plants – cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins and proteins.

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