LECTURE 2 – ORGANELLES AND FUNCTION

PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC FUNCTION:

- Eukaryotes- multicellular, DNA within membrane bound nucleus and is much larger with
many types of organelles in cytosol in cytoplasm outside the nucleus (Human cells, plant
cells and fungi)
 Cell is encased in plasma membrane – export and import
 Specialized functions
 Genome is the blue print for each cell
- Prokaryotes – no membrane enclosed nucleus – DNA spread through much of the cell and is
much smaller – bacterial cells, archaea

THE CELL AS A FACTORY:

- There are different regions for different functions that help each cell have an independent
life
- Cells require nutrients and oxygen
- Garbage removal is also necessary
- Each cell has its own genome

CYTOPLASM AND CYTOPLASMIC ORGANELLES:

- Composed of cytosol, organelles and inclusions

 Cytosol – water with solutes
 Organelles – metabolic machinery of cell , either membranous (mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, lysosomes) or non-membranous
(cytoskeleton, centrioles, ribosomes)
 Inclusions – vary with cell type
- Plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer made mainly of phospholipids – hydrophobic core
(lipophilic)
- Proteins with specific functions are embedded in a double layer of lipid molecules and helps
in reception of chemical signals as well as transport
- Plasma membrane proteins allow:
 Transport – substances like ions, nutrients, water or waste (up(active) or down(passive)
the conc. Gradient)
 Attachment of the cell to the basal lamina or adjacent cells
 Attachment of membrane to the cytoskeleton of the cell
 Receptors for signalling inside of cells
 Enzymatic activity

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM:

- ROUGH ER- membranous ER channels and ribosomes are attached to it

- SMOOTH ER – no ribosomes

THE GOLGI APPARATUS:

- Proteins are exported from RER to Golgi apparatus and proteins are sorted and packaged for
distribution

LYSOSOMES:
 - Membrane enclosed that contain digestive enzymes, worn out organelles end up in
lysosomes

MITOCHONDRIA:

- Responsible for the metabolism of nutrients

- Energy powerhouses of the cell
- One molecule of glucose can yield 36 ATP molecules
- Liver requires more energy and hence has more mitochondria
- Has its own genetic info (derived from mother)

NUCLEAR ENVELOPE:

- Consists of double membrane studded with pores. These pores control the exchange of
molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm

CHROMOSOMES:

- Histones can be modified and they bind tightly to DNA keeping genes switched off or can be
removed easily, allowing genes to be turned on more readily

THE CELL CYCLE:

- G1 – interval of cell growth before DNA replication (chromosomes unduplicated)

- S – interval when DNA replication takes place (chromosomes duplicated)
- G2 – interval following DNA replication (cell prepares to divide)
- Cytokinesis and back to G1
- G0 – cells can leave the cycle and enter an inactive state