2.

Cell Structure
Nucleus, Nuclear Envelope & Nucleolus
• Nucleus
o 10-20µm
o Largest cell organelle
o Has genetic material in form of chromosome
o Function: control cell’s activity by regulating proton and enzyme synthesis
• Nuclear Envelope
o Double membrane
o Outer membrane link ER
o F: Nuclear pores allow and control exchange between nucleus and cytoplasm (eg.
mRNA)
• Nucleolus
o Small, darkly stained body in nucleus
o F: makes ribosomal RNA (rRNA) & ribosomes

Ribosomes
• Small cytoplasmic granules
• 25nm
• Non-membrane bound
• 2 sub-units
o 80s (cytoplasm, bound to RER)
o 70s (mitochondria, chloroplast, bacteria)
Mitochondria
• Rod-shaped
• O.5-1 µm
• Double membrane
• Outer membrane has porin
Allow entry of tiny, water-soluble molecules
• Inner membrane to form cristae
Provide large surface area for ATP synthesis
• Liquids: matrix – have protein, lipids, small ribosome & circular DNA
• F: Involved in aerobic respiration to produce ATP
Chloroplast
• Only plant has
• 3-10µm
• Surrounded by two membrane
• Outer membrane is smooth
• Inner membrane folded into thylakoids
o Arranged in the grana [has
photosynthetic pigment]
• Liquids: stroma – enzyme (photosynthetic), oil droplets circular DNA, TOS ribosomes
• Function: site of photosynthesis
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Extensive network of folded membrane running through the cytoplasm, continuous with
the outer nuclear membrane
• Form a system of flattened sacs – cisternae
Rough ER
F: provide large surface area for protein synthesis
F: provide pathway for the transport of materials
F: form transport vesicles that transport protein to
Golgi Apparatus
Smooth ER
F: makes lipids and steroid (e.g. cholesterol, hormone, testosterone, oestrogen)

Golgi Body
• A stack of flattened membranous sac
o One end is formed by the fusion of membrane of
vesicle from RER or SER
o At the other end, Golgi vesicles are pinched off
from the stack
o These vesicles move to the cell surface membrane,
fuse with the membrane, and release their contents
Functions
▪ Modify protein by + carbohydrates to from glycoproteins
▪ Remove first amino acid (methionine) from newly formed proteins to make functioning
protein
 ▪ Produce secretory sugar into cell wall component in plant
▪ In animals, Golgi apparatus may from lysosomes

Lysosomes
• Spherical sac, single membrane, no internal
structure
• 0.1-0.5 µm
• Digestive enzyme (hydrolytic enzyme)
F: breakdown unwanted organelles

F: digest material ingested by phagocytic cells

Centrioles & Microtubules

• Centrioles
• Only on animal cell
• Hollow cylinders
• Length 0.5 µm; width 0.2 µm
• By 9 triplets of microtubules component each
arranged in a ring
• Two centrioles lie at right angle to another
• F: microtubules within centrioles from spindle
fibres during nuclear division

• Microtubules
• Straight, unbranched hollow cylinder
• 25nm wide
• Made of globular protein
• F: made up cytoskeleton - keep cell shape
• F: Involved in movements of cell components within the cytoplasm, acting to guide and
direct organelles
• F: component of spindle fibre used in nuclear division
Cell Surface Membrane

✓ Plasma membrane
✓ 7nm (can’t viewed using light microscope)
✓ 3 layer
✓ Made of lipid bilayer with protein embedded
✓ Partially permeable
✓ Functions:
o Control exchange of substances bet. cell & its environment
o From recognition site
o Act as receptor site for attachment of hormones & neurotransmitter
o Help cells attach to one another and form tissue
o Fold to form microvilli – provide large surface area for absorption

Cell wall
• All plant cell & fungi
• Made of cellulose
• Freely permeably
• Function: give cell a definite
shape & prevent cell from
bursting
Plasmodesmata
• Narrow channels that act as intercellular cytoplasmic bridges
• Functions: facilitate communication & transport of materials bet. plant cell

Vacuole & Tonoplast

❖ Vacuole surround by a membrane [tonoplast]
❖ Functions:
o Vacuole regulates osmotic
properties of cells
o H20, pigments, enzymes, o2, co2
o Tonoplast controls exchange
between vacuole and cytoplasm
Question
1. Are ribosomes visible using the light microscope? Why?
ANS:
- The resolution of microscope is limited by the radiation used to view the specimen
- The resolution of a light microscope is 200nm
- The diameter of a ribosome is much smaller than, which is 25nm
- Therefore, ribosomes are not visible using light microscope
2. No membrane: ribosome, centriole, nucleolus
Single membrane: Golgi body, lysosome, vacuole, RER, SER
Double membrane: mitochondria, chloroplast, nucleus
3. Relationship between RER, Golgi body and lysosome
- Ribosome of RER are site of protein synthesis
- Vesicle containing this protein is pinched off from RER to from Golgi body
- Inside Golgi body, the protein are modified
- Golgi vesicle buds off from the Golgi body containing these modified protein.