What is Nucleus?

Nucleus Properties

 The Nucleus is an important cell organelle that is present in the eukaryotic cell.
 It is derived from the Latin word, ‘nucleus’ or ‘ nuculeus’. It means kernel or seed.
 It is first described by Robert Brown as the cell organelle.
 It was named chromatin by the Flemming.
 It is double-membraned.
 It consists of genetic material. 
 The presence of a nucleus is one of the distinguishing features of the eukaryotic cell. 
 All the cellular activities are directed and coordinated by the nucleus.
 In the prokaryotic cell, the true nucleus is absent.
 In the case of a eukaryotic cell, the nucleus is present in all cells except the Red Blood
Cell (RBC) and sieve tube cell (phloem). 
 In the different types of cells, there is a different number of the nucleus. 
 Most of the cells consist of only one type of nucleus i.e uninucleated while some of them
consist of two nuclei i.e binucleate. 
 The multinucleated cell consists of two or more nuclei. Example: slime mold.
 The size of the nucleus is 5-25 µm. So, it is considered to be the largest organelles. 
 It occupies about 8% of the total cell volume.
 There is a variation in the shape as well as the position too. 
 The nucleus is of different shapes like round, oval, elliptical, or lobed.
 The Nucleus is present in a different position.
 In the animal cell, it is present in the center.
 In the plant cell, it is present in the periphery. It is because in the center there is the
presence of a large water-filled vacuole.
Structure of Nucleus
The structure of the nucleus consists of the following parts. They are:  

Nuclear envelope

 It is of the double- membrane and surrounds the nucleus.

 Outer and inner membrane are present in it. The outer membrane of the nucleus is
continuous with the ER ( Endoplasmic reticulum ). On its outer surface, there is the
presence of many ribosomes. 
 Perinuclear space is present between the membranes.
 It is impermeable to large molecules like proteins and RNA.
 Small molecules and ions can move freely.
 Nuclear pores are present in the nuclear envelope. These pores are the small gaps present
in the envelope. 
 Chemical composition: lipo-proteinous

The function of the nuclear envelope

 It gives the shape to the nucleus.

 It protects the internal constituents of the nucleus.
 It controls and regulates the movement of the substances which enter and exits the
nucleus.

Nucleolus
  During the cell division, it disappears in the late prophase. 
 In the Telophase stage, it reappears. 
 The structure of the nucleolus consists of three main regions. They are :

 Fibrillar centers: In the form of partly condensed chromatin, ribosomal RiboNucleic

Acids (rRNA) genes are present.
 Fibrillar component:  It surrounds the fibrillar centers where RNA molecules are
present.
 Granular regions: It consists of the mature ribosomal precursor particles. These are the
outermost regions.

 In the nucleus, the nucleolus may be present 1 to 4 in number.

 It is rounded in structure and naked.
 It is dense and is stained dark in color.
 Chemical composition: RNA and protein

Functions of the Nucleolus

 RNA is synthesized and stored in it.

 Sub-units of ribosomes are formed.
 During the cell division, it forms the spindle.
Other nuclear bodies

Different types of nuclear bodies are present in the nucleus. They are:

 Cajal bodies
 Gemini of Cajal bodies
 PIKA ( Polymorphic interphase karyosomal association)
 PML ( Promyelocytic leukemia) bodies
 Paraspeckles
 Splicing speckles

Chromatin reticulum
  Inside the nucleus, there is the presence of chromatins.
 During the cell division,  it is condensed in the chromosome. 
 It is dense in structure and is thread-like.
 It consists of proteins and DNA.
 Chromosome remains in the form of chromatin fibers at the interphase stage of cell
division. 
 They are differentiated into two distinct regions as heterochromatin and euchromatin.

Comparison between heterochromatin and euchromatin can be done based on the following
properties:

 Stain: Heterochromatin is dark stained and euchromatin is a lightly stained region of

chromatin reticulum.
 Condensation: Heterochromatin is highly condensed and euchromatin is a less
condensed region.
 Proportion: Heterochromatin forms the small part whereas euchromatin forms the major
part of the chromatin reticulum.
 Activeness: Heterochromatin is genetically inactive and euchromatin is genetically
active.

Chromosome

 In 1888 A.D Waldaye gave the term chromosome. 

 Chromosome consists of the gene and genes consist of the DNA.
 All the genetic information, heredity characters are present in it. 
 A Chromosome consists of the following parts which are revealed by the electron
microscope. They are:
 Chromonemata: It is known as the subchromatid. There are two subunits. Chromatids
are the two subunits of the metaphasic chromosome.
 Centromere: In the different chromosomes, there is the presence of the constricted
regions in different places. Based on the positions they are categorized as metacentric,
submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric chromosomes. 

Metacentric chromosome: Centromere is present in the middle and it forms two equal arms of a
chromosome.

Sub-metacentric chromosome: Centromere is present nearer to one end of the chromosome due
to which resulting arms are unequal. One is a long arm while another is a shorter arm.

Acrocentric chromosome: Centromere is present close to the end. It also results in unequal
arms of a chromosome. One will be very short whereas one will be a very long arm.

Telocentric chromosome: It has got a terminal centromere.

Nuclear organizer (secondary constriction I)

  A Nuclear organizer is a constriction that is present near one end of the chromosome. It is
necessary for the formation of the nucleolus.
 One or more secondary constrictions may be present.

Satellite: It is very short like the sphere. It is present beyond the nucleolar organizer. It is the
non-staining secondary constriction and is the small fragment. It is present only in a few
chromosomes.

Telomeres: It is the tip of the chromosome. It prevents the ends of the chromosome from
sticking together.

Nuclear matrix

 It is also called a nuclear scaffold.

 With the use of non-ionic detergents, nucleases, and high salt buffers, extraction of the
nuclear matrix from the cell’s nucleus is possible.
 It consists of the nuclear lamina which is a network of intermediate filaments.
 It consists of lamin proteins.
 It consists of the nuclear matrix which provides t mechanical support to the nucleus. It
acts like the cytoskeleton. 
 A Nuclear matrix is a network of fibers and filaments.

Nucleoplasm

 Nucleoplasm is a clear and transparent, gelatinous substance.

 It is also known as the karyoplasm.
 It surrounds the nucleolus and chromosomes.
 It consists of water, minerals, sugar, protein, nucleotides, enzymes, and RNA.
 Nucleoplasm is a semifluid substance.

Function of nucleoplasm

 It forms the spindle proteins which aids in cell division.

 It protects the contents of the nucleus.
 It provides the medium by which the enzymes and nucleotides get transported throughout
the nucleus.
 RNA and DNA are synthesized in it.
 Nucleolus and chromatin reticulum are held by nucleoplasm.
 It provides support by acting as the nuclear skeleton.

Nucleus Structure Free Worksheet

Answer

Functions of the Nucleus

Storing genetic material

 Genetic material like DNA is stored in the nucleus. 

 It is the cellular hereditary material. 
 The information which is encoded in the DNA is passed to the offsprings from the
parents.

DNA replication
  Replication is the process of copying the parental DNA.
 It occurs in the cell nucleus. 
 It takes place in the S phase of the interphase of the cell cycle.

Transcription

 It provides the site for genetic transcription. 

 It allows the level of gene regulation which are not available to prokaryotes. It consists of
a variety of proteins. 
 It either mediates the transcription process directly or is they may be involved in
regulating the process. 
 Different proteins involved in it are helicases, RNA polymerases, topoisomerases, etc.

Other functions

 The nucleus controls the gene expression and helps in the replication of DNA during the
cell cycle.
 Coordinates and regulates cellular activities like cell division, protein synthesis, and
growth.
 The formation of ribosomes occurs in the nucleolus.
 Through the nuclear pores only selective transportation is allowed. 
 Organic evolution: It involves variation and can induce genetic change.
 Nucleolus stores the proteins and RNA.
 In the nucleus, during the cell division, chromatins are arranged into chromosomes.