Topic 3: The voice of the genome

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Learning objective
2. Distinguish between eukaryotic and
prokaryotic cells in terms of their structure
and ultrastructure.
3. Describe the ultrastructure of an animal
(eukaryotic) cell (nucleus, nucleolus,
ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic
reticulum, mitochondria, centrioles,
lysosomes, and Golgi apparatus) and
recognise these organelles from EM images.


Learning objective
4. Explain the role of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum (rER) and the Golgi apparatus in
protein transport within cells and including
its role in formation of extracellular
enzymes.


Observing cells..
Light microscope...
Advantages:
Living plants and animals can be seen directly
(can compare prepared slides with living tissues)
Cheap (available in schools, universities,
hospitals and research labs). Easily transported
Light microscope...
Disadvantages:
Preservation and staining of the tissue can
produce artefacts
Have limited powers of resolution and
magnification
Light microscope...
Electron microscope...
Advantages:
Have huge powers of magnification and
resolution can see details of cell structure
Electron microscope...
Disadvantages:
All specimens are examined in a vacuum air
would scatter the electrons and make the
images fuzzy (quite impossible to look at living
material)
Specimens undergo severe treatment (may
result in artefacts)
Extremely expensive
Electron microscope...
Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic cells
Bacteria and blue-green algae prokaryotes
Simpler than eukaryotes
They do not have membrane-bound organelles (no
nucleus!!)
The genetic materials nucleoid (loop) plus
additional plasmid
They have: enzymes, ribosomes and food storage
granules, mesosome
They dont have: ER, Golgi Body, mitochondria and
chloroplasts
These are
prokaryote
E. coli bacteria on
the head of a
steel pin.
Prokaryote cells are simply built
(example: E. coli)
Capsule*: slimy outer
coating
Cell wall: tougher middle
layer - peptidoglycan
Cell membrane: delicate
inner skin
Cytoplasm: inner liquid filling
DNA in one big loop
Pilli*: for sticking to things
Flagella*: for swimming
Ribosomes: for building
proteins
Prokaryote cells are simply built
(example: E. coli)
Prokaryote lifestyle
unicellular: all
alone
colony: forms a
film
filamentous:
forms a chain of
cells
Prokaryotic cells
Prokaryotic cells
The characteristics of eukaryotic cells
The characteristics of eukaryotic cells
Eukaryotes are bigger and more
complicated
Have chromosomes
Can be multicellular
Include animal, plant cells and protoctists
(algae and many fungi)
Have cells that contain membrane-bound
organelles (nucleus, mitochondria and
chloroplasts)

Organelles are membrane-
bound cell parts
Mini organs that have
unique structures and
functions
Located in cytoplasm
Cell membrane
delicate lipid
and protein skin
around
cytoplasm
found in all cells
Cell Structures
Nucleus
a membrane-bound
sac evolved to store
the cells
chromosomes(DNA)
has pores: holes
Nucleus
The largest organelle in the cell (10-20um)
can be seen with light microscope
Surrounded by a double nuclear membrane
nuclear pore
Chemicals can pass in and out
When the cells are not actively dividing
DNA is called chromatin
Nucleolus
An extra-dense
area of almost
pure DNA and
protein
Ribosome factory
Mitochondrion
makes the cells
energy
the more energy the
cell needs, the more
mitochondria it has
Has outer and inner
membrane
Contain own genetic
material
Ribosomes
build proteins
from amino acids
in cytoplasm
may be free-
floating, or
may be attached
to ER
made of RNA
Endoplasmic reticulum
may be smooth:
builds lipids and
carbohydrates
may be rough:
stores proteins
made by attached
ribosomes
Golgi body
takes in sacs of
raw material
from ER
sends out sacs
containing
finished cell
products
Lysosomes
sacs filled with
digestive
enzymes
digest worn out
cell parts
digest food
absorbed by cell
Lysosomes
frequently fused with each other or with
membrane-bound vacuole containing
either food or an absolute organelle
Lysosomes fusing with food vacuoles
Cells undergoing apoptosis
Centrioles
pair of bundled
tubes
made up of nine
tubules
involved in the
formation of the
spindle fiber
Cytoskeleton
made of
microtubules
found throughout
cytoplasm
gives shape to cell
& moves
organelles around
inside.
Structures found in plant cells
Cell wall
very strong
made of
cellulose
protects cell
from rupturing
glued to other
cells next door
Vacuole
huge water-
filled sac
keeps cell
pressurized
stores starch
Chloroplasts
filled with
chlorophyll
turn solar
energy into
food energy