ORGANELLES FUNCTIONS

NUCLEUS It stores genes and chromosomes. In

cells with a nucleus, the entire DNA is
stored in the nucleus. This is a trait that
both protects valuable DNA and allows it
to be easily accessed by RNA. Prokaryotic
cells that have no nucleus simply let the
DNA float around inside them. It
organizes the chromosomes for cell
division and passes the chromosomes to
the new cells. It produces Ribonucleic
Acid(RNA). Ribonucleic acid is the
messenger system of the cell and is
produced by the nucleus. It coils and
uncoils the DNA. DNA is coiled in the
nucleus. It is so compressed that when
extended, it becomes a chain 1.8 meters
long. The width of the nucleus however
is 6 micrometers – a compression factor
of about 10,000 times. The enzymes that
carry out this function are produced in
the nucleus. They can also uncoil the
DNA strands and transport them to a
new cell.
MITOCHONDRIA Mitochondria are often referred to as the
powerhouse of the cell. They are small
structures within a cell that are made up
of two membranes and a matrix.
Mitochondria are a part of eukaryotic
cells. The main job of mitochondria is to
perform cellular respiration. This means
it takes in nutrients from the cell, breaks
it down, and turns it into energy. This
energy is then in turn used by the cell to
carry out various functions. Each cell
contains a different number of
mitochondria. The number present is
dependent upon how much energy the
cell requires. The more energy a cell
needs the more mitochondria that will
be present. Cells have the ability to
produce more mitochondria as needed.
They also can combine mitochondria to
make larger ones.
CHLOROPLAST Chloroplasts are the part of plant and
algal cells that carry out photosynthesis,
the process of converting light energy to
energy stored in the form of sugar and
other organic molecules that the plant or
alga uses as food. Photosynthesis has
two stages. In the first stage, the light-
dependent reactions occur. These
reactions capture sunlight through
chlorophyll and carotenoids to form
adenosine triphosphate (ATP, the energy
currency of the cell) and nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide phosphate
(NADPH), which carries electrons. The
second stage consists of the light-
independent reactions, also known as
the Calvin cycle. In the Calvin cycle, the
electrons carried by NADPH convert
inorganic carbon dioxide and to an
organic molecule in the form of a
carbohydrate, a process known as CO2
fixation. Carbohydrates and other
organic molecules can be stored and
used at a later time for energy.
Chloroplasts are essential for the growth
and survival of plants and photosynthetic
algae. Like solar panels, chloroplasts take
light energy and convert it into a usable
form that powers activities.
RIBOSOME The main function of ribosomes is to
serve as the site for mRNA translation in
synthesis. Here the ribosome translates
the mRNA into a specific sequence of
amino acids or a polypeptide chain.
Other than that, ribosomes are a cell
structure that makes protein. Protein is
needed for many cell functions such as
repairing damage or directing chemical
processes.
Proteins are an essential part of all cells.
Both eukaryotes and prokaryotes require
protein to function and carry out daily
activities. For this reason, ribosomes are
extremely important for the survival of
living things.
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle
found in the cells of eukaryotic organisms. ER
occurs in almost every type of eukaryotic cell
except red blood cells and sperm cells.
Endoplasmic reticulum has two types, rough
endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and smooth
endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Rough ER is
studded with ribosomes, the site of protein
synthesis. This type of ER is especially prominent
in certain kinds of cells like hepatocytes where
active protein synthesis occurs. Smooth ER does
not have ribosomes and is very important to the
process of metabolism. Endoplasmic reticulum
has a number of jobs within the cell. This
includes the folding and transport of various
proteins, specifically carrying them to the Golgi
apparatus. Some other proteins, mostly the
glycoproteins, move across the ER's membrane.
The ER is also responsible for marking these
proteins that it transports with a signal
sequence. Other proteins are headed outside
the ER, so they are packed into transport
vesicles and moved out of the cell via the
cytoskeleton. Basically, the ER is the
transportation system of the eukaryotic cell, and
its proteins are contained within it until they are
needed to move.

GOLGI APPARATUS The function of the Golgi apparatus is received,

modified, packaged, sorted and transport
protein, carbohydrates and lipid from ER to
other parts of cell. It is also produce lysosome.
Golgi apparatus also produce polysaccharides
for the cell wall formation in plant.
LYSOSOMES Lysosomes carry out intracellular digestion in
which the plasma membrane engulfs
particulate substances and pinches off to form
a particle- containing vacuole. Lysosomes will
fuse with food-filled vacuoles and digest the
food with their hydrolytic enzymes. Amoebas
and other protists also feed in this way.
Lysosomes recycle the cell’s own organic
materials. Lysosomes may engulf other cellular
organelles or part of the cytosol and digest
them with hydrolytic enzymes. This results in
the release of monomers into the cytosol
where they can be recycled to form new
macromolecules. Lysosomes carry out
programmed cell destruction. Destruction of
cells by their own lysosomes is important
during metamorphosis and development.
CENTRIOLES Centrioles are present only in animal cells.
Absent in plant cells. Centrioles play very
important role in cell division During cell
division, they duplicate and a pair of centrioles
moves to each pole of the cell. Each pair at
opposite poles produces the spindle fibers,
which radiate towards the equator of cell and
then attach the chromosomes and help them to
migrate towards both poles of the cell. They
also organize the formation of cilia and flagella
to help in movements of cell organelles.

VACUOLES Vacuoles store organic compounds and

inorganic ions, water and minerals. It can also
function as a lysosomal compartment,
containing hydrolytic enzymes that digest
stored macromolecules and recycle molecular
components from organelles. The vacuoles also
act as disposal sites for metabolic by-products
that would be dangerous if allowed to
accumulate in the cytoplasm. Some vacuoles
are rich in pigments that color the cells, such as
red and blue pigments of petals that help to
attracting pollinating insects to flowers. The
vacuoles may also help protect the plants
against herbivores by producing compounds
that are poisonous or inedible to animals. The
vacuole plays a major role in plant cell growth
by elongating as they absord water, thus
enabling the cell to enlarge.