ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CELL

CELL MEMBRANE CYTOPLASM NUCLEUS

Cell Organelles and
Structures
Ma. Catalina B. Mallillin, LPT
Organelles

• First Definition
• Internal structures in the cell that contains double membrane
(usually separately enclosed within their own lipid bilayers)

• Second Definition
• include only those that are DNA-containing, having originated from
formerly autonomous microscopic organisms acquired via
endosymbiosis.

• Third Definition
• All structures located inside the cell. (Membranous and
Non-membranous)
Organelles and Structures

• Endoplasmic System (RER and SER, Golgi Bodies)

• Ribosomes
• Mitochondrion
• Plastids (Chloroplast, Leucoplast, Chromoplast, Gerontoplast)
• Plasmodesmata
• Peroxisomes
• Lysosomes
• Cytoskeleton (Microtubules, Microfilament, Intermediate Filament)
• Centrioles/Microtubules Organizing Complex (MTOC)
• Vacuole
Endoplasmic System

• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Golgi Bodies/Golgi Apparatus
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Description
• defined by the presence of ribosomes bound to its cytosolic/cisternal
surface.

• Functions
• it segregates certain newly synthesized proteins away from the cytoplasm
and transports them to other locations in the cell.
• While inside the RER, proteins can be chemically modified so as to alter
their function and eventual destination.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Other Description
• The RER is typically composed of a network of flattened sacs
(cisternae).
• The RER is continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear
envelope, which also bears ribosomes on its cytosolic surface.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

•Description
• It lacks associated ribosomes

•Functions
• It is responsible for chemically modifying small
molecules taken in by the cell. This is especially true
for drugs and pesticides.
• It is the site for the hydrolysis of glycogen in animal
cells.
• It is the site for the synthesis of lipids and steroids.
Golgi Bodies

• Description
• morphology consisting primarily of flattened, disklike,
membranous cisternae with dilated rims and associated
vesicles and tubules.

• Functions
• It receives proteins from the ER and may further modify them.
• It concentrates, packages, and sorts proteins before they are
sent to their cellular or extracellular destinations.
• It is where some polysaccharides for the plant cell wall are
synthesized.
Vesicles

Types Description Examples

Exocytotic vesicles Vesicle contains proteins Antibody release by
(constitutive) destined for extracellular activated plasma B cells
release. (without signal)
Secretory vesicles Vesicles contain proteins Neurotransmitter release
(regulated) destined for extracellular from neurons
release. (with signal)
Lysosomal vesicles Vesicles contain proteins and Digestive proteases destined
ribosomes destined for the for the lysosome
lysosome, a degradative
organelle containing many
acid hydrolases, or to
lysosome-like storage
organelles.
Ribosomes

•Description
• It is largely made up of specialized RNA
known as ribosomal RNA (rRNA) as well as
dozens of distinct proteins.

•Functions
•Facilitates the synthesis of proteins under
the direction of mRNA.
Mitochondrion

•Description
• At one end of the spectrum, mitochondria can appear
as individual, bean-shaped organelles, ranging from 1
to 4 nm in length. At the other end of the spectrum,
mitochondria can appear as a highly branched,
interconnected tubular network.
•Functions
• Generates the ATP that is used to run most of the
cell’s energy-requiring activities.
Plastids

• Functions
• site of manufacture and storage of important chemical
compounds used by the cell.

• Types
• Chloroplast
• Chromoplast
• Gerontoplast
• Leucoplast
Plastid: Chloroplast

• Description
• characterized by its high concentration of chlorophyll, thus it is a green
plastid.

• Functions
• It conducts photosynthesis (process of making glucose using light as energy
source)
Plastid: Chromoplast

• Description
• found in fruits, flowers, roots, and stressed and aging leaves, and are
responsible for their distinctive colors.
• contain red (rhodophyll), orange (carotene), and/or yellow (xanthophyll)
pigments

• Functions
• responsible for pigment synthesis and storage in specific photosynthetic
eukaryotes.
Plastids: Gerontoplast

• Description
• a plastid found in formerly green tissues that are currently senescing. A
gerontoplast is a chloroplast that has re-purposed through a process of
developmental senescence.

• Function
• control the dismantling of the photosynthetic apparatus during plant
senescence
Plastid: Leucoplast

• Description
• category of plastid and as such are organelles found in plant
cells. They are non-pigmented, in contrast to other plastids
such as the chloroplast.

• Functions
• For bulk storage
• Amyloplast – storage for starch
• Elaioplast – storage for fats
• Proteinoplast – storage for proteins
Elaioplast

Proteinoplast
Plasmodesmata

• Description
• microscopic channels which traverse the cell walls of plant cells and some
algal cells

• Functions
• enables transport and communication between plant/algal cells
Lysosomes

• Description
• spherical vesicles which contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down
virtually all kinds of biomolecules.

• Functions
• act as the waste disposal system of the cell by digesting unwanted materials
in the cytoplasm
• detoxification
Peroxisomes

• Description
• contain oxidative enzymes, such as D-amino acid oxidase and uric acid
oxidase.

• Functions
• catabolism of very long chain fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids,
D-amino acids, and polyamines, reduction of reactive oxygen species –
specifically hydrogen peroxide
Cytoskeleton

• Description
• contains a set of long, thin fibers

• Functions
• It maintains cell shape and support.
• It provides for various types of cellular movement.
• Some of its fibers act as tracks or supports for motor proteins, which help
move things within the cell.
 Cytoskeleton

• Microfilament
• They help the entire cell or parts of the cell to move.
• They stabilize cell shape.

• Intermediate Filament
• They stabilize cell structure.
• They resist tension.

• Microtubules
• They form a rigid internal skeleton for some cells.
• They act as a framework along which motor proteins can move
structures in the cell.
Centrioles

• Description
• a cylindrical cell structure composed mainly of a protein called tubulin.
• made up of nine sets of microtubule triplets, arranged in a cylinder.

• Function
• Organizing the mitotic spindle and in the completion of cytokinesis.
Nucleus

Description
is a membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's chromosomes. Pores in
the nuclear membrane allow for the passage of molecules in and out of the
nucleus.

Function
The nucleus controls and regulates the activities of the cell (e.g., growth
and metabolism) and carries the genes, structures that contain the hereditary
information
Exercise

Organelles Function