Cell Structure & Function

Cell Theory
All living things are made up of cells. Cells are the smallest working units of all living things. All cells come from preexisting cells through cell division.

Definition of Cell
The cell is the structural and functional unit of life. A cell is the smallest unit that is capable of performing life functions.

Examples of Cells
Amoeba Proteus Plant Stem

Bacteria

Red Blood Cell

Nerve Cell

Two Types of Cells

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic

Prokaryotic
Smaller in size 1-10m Rigid cell wall Do not have membrane bound organelles Few internal structure Anaerobic / aerobic Eg: Bacteria

Eukaryotic
Larger in size 10-100 m Contains membrane and membrane bound organelles (little organs) . Plant Animal

PROKARYOTIC

EUKARYOTIC

SIZE TYPE
OUTER COVERING CYTOSKELETON MEMBRANE BOUND ORGANELLES RIBOSOMES

1-10m UNICELLULAR
RIGID CELL WALL ABSENT NO FREE IN CYTOPLASM

10-100 m MULTICELLULAR
LIPID BILAYER WITH PROTEINS PRESENT EVOLVED STUDDED ON ER

GOLGI APPARATUS
LYSOSOMES CELL DIVISION

STORAGE GRANULES
ABSENT FISSION

FLATTENED MEMBRANE
VESICLE CONTAINING HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES MITOSIS

Typical Animal Cell

Cells are surrounded by cell membrane The interior of the cell is divided:

1. Nucleus 2. Cytoplasm The Cytoplasm contains two components 1. Cell organelles 2. Cytosol

Cell Parts

Cell Membrane
Function of cell membrane

1. Seperates the cell external environment. 2. Selective permeability.

from

3. Link adjacent cells together 4. Exocytosis and endocytosis.

The Cell Membrane Structure (Fluid mosaic model)

Phospholipids
Phosphate

Fatty acid tails

hydrophobic

Phosphate group head

hydrophilic
Fatty acid

Arranged as a bilayer

Phospholipid bilayer
polar hydrophilic heads nonpolar hydrophobic tails

polar hydrophilic heads

More than lipids

In 1972, S.J. Singer & G. Nicolson proposed that membrane proteins are inserted into the phospholipid bilayer. Two types of membrane protein Integral membrane Peripheral membrane 1. 2.

Membrane Proteins
Proteins determine membranes specific functions
cell membrane & organelle membranes each have unique collections of proteins

Membrane proteins:
peripheral proteins
loosely bound to surface of membrane

integral proteins
penetrate lipid bilayer, usually across whole membrane transmembrane protein

Proteins domains anchor molecule

Within membrane
nonpolar amino acids
hydrophobic anchors protein into membrane
Polar areas of protein

On outer surfaces of membrane

polar amino acids
hydrophilic extend into extracellular fluid & into cytosol
Nonpolar areas of protein

Many Functions of Membrane Proteins

Outside

Plasma membrane
Inside

Transporter

Enzyme activity

Cell surface receptor

Cell surface identity marker

Cell adhesion

Attachment to the cytoskeleton

Membrane carbohydrates
Play a key role in cell-cell recognition
ability of a cell to distinguish one cell from another
important in organ & tissue development

Membrane Junctions
Some cell not anchored to other cells but suspend in the fluid. Most cells are packaged into tissues and are not free to move. Many cells physically joined by specialized types: 1. Desmosomes 2. Tight junctions 3. Gap junctions

Inside the Cell

Nucleus
Almost all cells contain a single nucleus. Directs cell activities Separated from cytoplasm by nuclear membrane Function-Stores and transmits genetic information in the form of DNA. Genetic information passes from the nucleus to the cytoplasm

Nuclear Membrane
Double membrane structure.
Separates nucleus from the cytosol. Inner membrane perinuclear membrane Outer memebrane continuous with rough ER
NUCLEAR

PORE COMPLEX: Controls movement of proteins and ribo nucleic acid (RNA) across nuclear envelope

Chromosomes
DNA is coiled into a dense mass Chromatin. Contain instructions for traits & characteristics

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html

Nucleolus

Site of RNA processing and ribosome synthesis.

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html

Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of interconnecting membranes enclosing channels/cisternae that are continuous from perinuclear envelope to outer plasma membrane

Moves materials around in cell. Smooth type (Agranular): lacks ribosomes. Site of lipid molecule synthesized. Rough type (Granular): ribosomes embedded in surface. Packaging of proteins to be secreted or distributed.

PEROXISOME
Small organelles microbodies

formed by budding from smooth er Carries out oxidation reaction. Toxic H2O2 broken down by catalase Oxidation of fatty acids can also occur in peroxisomes.

Function and clinical significance;

Peroxidation of PUFA hydroperoxide & free radicals
Catalase/peroxidase

Harmless molecules

Adreno leukodystrophy(ALD) - deficiency of peroxisomes.

Progressive degeneration of liver, kidney, brain. Insufficient oxidation of very long chain fatty acids.

Zellweger syndrome:
Proteins are not transported into the peroxisomes.

Empty peroxisomess or peroxisomal ghosts

Ribosomes
Composed of proteins and several RNA molecules Proteins synthesising machinery of the cell Either bound to the organelle or found free in the cytoplasm

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html

Golgi Apparatus
Italian biologist Camillo Golgi discovered these structures in the late 1890s. Also called dictyosomes. Curved flattened fluid filled sacs. Unique protein sorting device (packaging & secretion).

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html

 On the proximal or cis concave side, golgi complex receives newly

synthesized protein from rough ER as vesicles. Postranslational modification takes place in the golgi lumen precursors are added lipid

Distal trans side releases modified proteins through secretory vesicles These fuse with the plasma membrane and the contents expelled exocytosis

Lysosome
(organelles with packet of enzyme)
Involved in intracellular digestion Suicidal bag of cell Ph lower than cytosol (ph=5) Lysosomal enzymes are acid hydrolases-digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acid

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html

Significance of lysosomes:

Death of the cell

Disintegration of lysosomal bodies

Gout- urate crystals depositon around the kenee joints. Phagocytosis of these crystals

Release of lysosomal enzymes

Damage to vacuoles release of enzymes

&

Autolysis of the cell

I cell disease: lysosomes lack enzymes

MITOCHONDRIA
POWER HOUSE OF THE CELL

A spherical rod like structure

OUTER MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE Consists of phospholipids and cholesterol.

Contains the protein porin.

Forms channels. Substances < 10,000 m.w. Diffuses freely

INNER MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE

Rich in proteins- high proportion of cardiolipin impermeable to polar and ionic substances

enters only through specific transport proteins

CRISTAE:
folded inner mitochondrial membrane

Inter membrane space:

Space between outer and inner membrane

Mitochondrial matrix:
Region enclosed by inner membrane Site of TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation Matrix contains several strands of DNA enzymes, ribosomes for protein synthesis

Function: 1. Houses enzymes of TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation- generation of ATP. 2. Steroidogenesis using cyt P450 3. Part of urea cycle and heme synthesis.

CYTOSKELETON
Complex array of subcellular organelles dispersed throughout the cell.
Major components are: 1. 2. 3. Microtubules: role in the assembly and disassembly of the spindle structures during mitosis. Microfilaments: slender cylinder like structures made up of contractile protein actin Microtrabeculae - fragile tubes forms a trasient network in the cytosol

Maintain shape of cell Produces cellular and subcellular movements

CYTOPLASM (CYTOSOL)
Soluble material of cytoplasm site of many metabolic reactions

ORGANELLE
NUCLEUS DNA

MARKER

MAJOR FUNCTIONS
SITE OF DNA REPLICATION & TRANSCRIPTION. POWER HOUSE, CITRIC ACID CYCLE. OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION PROTEIN SYNTHESIS. OXIDATION OF XENOBIOTICS (CYT P450)

MITOCHONDRIA

GLUTAMATE DH PORINS AND PROTEINS GLU 6 PHOSPHATASE COATED WITH RIBOSOMES NO RIBOSOMES

ER ROUGH SMOOTH

LYSOSOMES
PLASMA MEMBRANE

ACID PHOSPHATASE
Na+, K+ ATPASE 5' NUCLEOTIDASE

HYDROLASES
TRANSPORT OF MOLS IN AND OUT OF CELLS. INTERCELLULAR ADHESION AND COMMUNICATION INTRACELLULAR MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS. GLYCOSYLATION SULFATION REACTION.

GOLGI APPARATUS (DICTYOSOMES)

GALACTOSYL TRANSFERASE

PEROXISOME

CATALASE / URIC ACID OXIDASE

DEGENERATION OF FATTY ACID AND AMINO ACID. PRODUCTION AND DEGENERATION OF H2 O2 .

CYTOSKELETON

NO SPECIAL ENZYME MARKERS

LDH

MICROFILAMENTS, MICROTUBULES
ENZYME OF GLYCOLYSIS, FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS. SITE OF SYNTHESIS OF r RNA

CYTOSOL

NUCLEOULUS

RNA POLYMERASE