Endomembrane System, Ribosomes and Microbodies
Endomembrane System, Ribosomes and Microbodies
Endomembrane System, Ribosomes and Microbodies
NOTE
B I O L O G Y
Key Takeaways
• Ribosomes
• Endomembrane system
→ Endoplasmic reticulum → Golgi apparatus → Vacuole → Lysosome
• Microbodies
Prerequisites
Cell
• Organelles: Organelles are specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions.
Ribosomes
•G eorge Palade observed dense particles in cells under the electron microscope. He called
them “Palade particles”.
•T hese particles were later renamed as ribosomes.
• It is made up of two parts:
→ RNA → Proteins
•T hey are not membrane-bound organelles.
•T hey are solid and dense structures (not fluid-filled).
•A ll living cells have ribosomes except mammalian RBC.
•T hey are the smallest cell organelles, about 15 to 20 nm in size.
•T heir main function is protein synthesis.
•T hey are made up of two units:
→ Large subunit → Small subunit
Large subunit
Small subunit
Ribosome
Types of ribosomes
Free
Bound
• S (Svedberg unit):
→ A unit for sedimentation coefficient.
→S edimentation coefficient is a measure of how fast a particle settles when centrifuged in an
ultracentrifuge.
◆ Larger and denser the particle - the greater its ‘S’ value.
◆ Smaller and lighter the particle - the lesser its ‘S’ value.
•O rganelle within an organelle:
→ Organelles like mitochondria and chloroplast synthesize their own ribosomes.
◆ Mitochondria - 55S type of ribosome
◆ Chloroplast - 70S type of ribosome
• Functions of ribosomes:
→ Protein synthesis
◆R
ibosomes read the sequence of nucleotides on the mRNA and assemble the respective
amino acids to make the proteins.
◆S
ometimes the same mRNA strand has multiple ribosomes reading it at the same time.
This condition is known as a polysome.
Ribosomes
5' 3'
Endomembrane System
Tubules
Lumen
The irregularly branched
The cisternae and the tubules
tubes which can be free or
are hollow and this internal
associated with cisternae
space is known as the lumen.
are known as tubules.
Cisternae The ER occupies a huge space
The long flattened units arranged in of the cytoplasm, almost the
stacks are known as cisternae. whole of the cell.
•E
R divides the intracellular space into two distinct compartments:
→ Luminal compartment - Space enclosed by the ER
→ Extraluminal compartment - Space that is not enclosed by the ER
Endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosomes
•E
R having ribosomes embedded in the •E
R that is not associated with ribosomes.
membranes. •A ppear smooth due to the absence of
•A
ppear rough due to the presence of ribosomes.
ribosomes. •R ER transitions into the SER. They are
•C
omposed mostly of cisternae (flattened present in continuity.
sacs). •C omposed mostly of tubules.
•R
ibosomes on RER are involved in protein •S ER functions.
synthesis.
→ Glycogen and lipid metabolism
•P
roteins, once synthesized, are transferred
→ Synthesis of steroid hormones
into the ER lumen.
→ Detoxification of drugs and pollutants
•P
roteins destined to other parts of the cell
or outside the cell are transported away •S ER is more abundant in cells of adipose
from the RER in vesicles. tissue, glycogen-storing liver cells, cells of
adrenal cortex, etc.
•R
ER is more abundant in cells which are
actively engaged in protein synthesis and
secretion.
Example: liver, pancreas, goblet cells, etc.
Golgi complex
• It was discovered by Camillo Golgi (1898). He observed densely stained reticular structures
near the nucleus.
• The Golgi complex apparatus like a bunch of flattened sac-like structures.
• It is also known as Golgi complex and Golgi bodies.
• In plants, the Golgi apparatus is known as dictyosome.
• It lies close to the endoplasmic reticulum inside the cell.
• It is found in all eukaryotes except mature RBCs.
• Structure:
→ Consists of disc-like cisternae, vesicles and tubules.
→ Size: 0.5μm to 1.0μm in diameter
→ The cisternae are concentrically arranged parallel to one another.
Cis face
•P
art of the Golgi apparatus facing the towards
the ER.
•C
onvex shape - Cisternae fold away from the
ER
•R
eceiving face - It receives proteins and lipids
Transport vesicles from the ER.
Cis face from ER
Packaging and transport
•A
s the proteins and lipids from the ER pass
through the Golgi complex they are
→ Modified
→ Sorted and tagged
Lysosomes
Lysosome
HYDROLYTIC
SUBSTANCES
ENZYMES
Protein Protease
Lipid Lipase
Carbohydrates Glycosidase
Sulphates Sulphatase
Function of Iysosome
Intracellular digestion
Invading microbe
Phagosome
Lysosome
Phagolysosome
Heterophagy by lysosomes
• T
he phagosome fuses with the lysosome to form the phagolysosome.
This digestion of foreign materials (in the phagosome) through
phagocytosis is known as - heterophagy.
(b) Digestion of food
Lysosome
Plasma
membrane
Digestion
Food vacuole
Lysosomes
Autophagosome
Old organelle
Breakdown of worn-out
cell organelles
Extracellular digestion
Vacuoles
•V
acuole is a large single membrane-bound organelle found in plant cells.
•A
lso found in some cells of
→ Fungi
→P rotists
→A nimals
→B acteria
• It is more prominent in plant cells and can occupy around 70% of the volume of the cell.
Tonoplast • S
ingle membrane enclosing the contents of
the vacuole.
Cell sap • F
acilitates the transport of ions and other
materials against concentration gradient into
the vacuole.
Sap
Functions of vacuoles
Vacuole 2
(a) Contractile vacuole Excess water enters
1
• Helps in osmoregulation and Water enters due to contractile vacuole
excretion. osmosis
•O smoregulation - The maintenance 6 Cell
3
of constant osmotic pressure in the The cycle Contractile
fluids of an organism by the control of is repeated vacuole swells
water and salt concentrations. It keeps
the cell from bursting.
5 4
Contractile vacuole Contractile vacuole
bursts and expels water moves to edge of cell
Microbodies
•T
hese are single membrane-bound vesicles but they are not a part of the endomembrane
system.
•M
icrobodies are found in both plants and animals.
Lipid bilayer
Plasma
Crystalline membrane
core
Microbodies
Types of microbodies
Membrane-enclosed nucleus
Capsule Cell wall
Nucleoid
DNA
Cell
membrane
Ribosomes
Membrane-enclosed Flagellum
organelles
Chloroplast Cell
Endoplasmic membrane
reticulum
Summary Sheet
Ribosomes Microbodies
• RNA + proteins • Single membrane-bound organelle
• Not membrane-bound • Contains enzymes
• 2 subunits
• Prokaryotes - 70S
• Eukaryotes - 80S
• Synthesis of proteins Peroxisome Sphaerosome Glyoxysome
Endomembrane System
• Single membrane-bound organelles
• Packaging and transport of materials
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Tiny tubular structures
• Consists of cisternae and tubules
RER SER
• Mainly cistenae • Mainly tubules
• Protein synthesis • Lipid metabolism
Golgi Apparatus
• Flattened sac-like structures
• Consists of cisternae, vesicles and tubules
Lysosome
• Suicide bags
• Contain hydrolytic enzymes (hydrolases)
• Intracellular and intercellular digestion
Vacuole
• Consists of tonoplast and sap
• Storage
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
• Nucleus
• Nucleoid • Cell membrane • Membrane-bound
• Circular DNA • Ribosomes organelles
• Linear DNA
•P
lant cells have cell wall, plastids and large vacuoles.
•A
nimal cells have centrosome, small vacuole along with cilia or flagella.
•B
oth plant and animal cells have following:
→N ucleus
→E R
→M itochondria
→G olgi apparatus
→C ell membrane
→C ytoplasm
→C ytoskeleton