Unit 1: Cells

Lesson 1.3 Components

of the Cell II:
Subcellular Organelles

Reporter: Divine Grace G. Enema &

Bebelyn Perez
The Origin of Membrane Bounded
Organelles

Some scientists believed that the nucleus evolved as a result

of invagination. Much scientific evidence also shows that
mitochondria and chloroplasts arose when a large eukaryotic
cell engulfed independent prokaryotes. This relationship is later
on referred to as the endosymbiotic theory.
Fig. 1.3.1 The summary of endosymbiotic theory
 The Genetic Control of the Cell

A cell must maintain its structures and also process energy to

support its cellular activities. But which of the organelles controls
the orders, masters the plan, commands the responses to its
environment?
 Nucleus
The nucleus is a prominent structure in a
eukaryotic cell. It measures around 5 micrometers
and generally appears as an oval structure located
at almost the center of the cell. The importance of
the nucleus in the cell is that it is the one that
specifies the code for protein synthesis.
It contains chromatin and a semifluid matrix called the nucleoplasm.
 Chromatin is a network of strands that condenses and
undergoes coiling into rod-like structures called
chromosomes. The chromosomes are carriers of genetic
information and that the nucleus is the command center of
the cell.
 The nuclear envelope is a double membrane that is similar to
the plasma membrane of the cell.

The nuclear pores permit the passage of ribosomal subunits

and mRNA out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm.

The nuclear pore complexes act like gatekeepers to regulate what

comes in and out of the nucleus.
 Fig. 1.3.3

The chromatin and the chromosomes contain DNA and some RNA.
This is where the rRNA joins with proteins to form the subunits of
ribosomes. Messenger RNA is a mobile molecule that acts as an
intermediary for DNA, which specifies the sequence of amino acids in a
protein. Transfer RNA participates in the assembly of amino acids into a
polypeptide by recognizing both mRNA and amino acids during protein
synthesis.
Ribosomes
Ribosomes are the
organelles that use instructions
from the nucleus, written in
mRNA, to build proteins.
Ribosomes are composed of
small and large subunits. These
can be found in the cytosol,
which are called free ribosomes.
They can also be attached to the
outside of the endoplasmic
reticulum or nuclear envelope,
as bound ribosomes.
The DNA programs protein production
in the cytoplasm by transferring its
coded information to a molecule called
messenger RNA. The mRNA molecule
then carries the order to build a certain type
of protein from the nucleus to the
cytoplasm. The mRNA exits through pores
in the nuclear envelope and travels to the
cytoplasm, where it then binds to
ribosomes. The ribosome moves along the
mRNA, translating the genetic message into
a protein with a specific amino acid
sequence.
 The Endomembrane System

The endomembrane system consists of the

endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi bodies, and many
vesicles. The vesicles transport molecules from one part
of the system to another. It is a series of interacting
organelles between the nucleus and the plasma
membrane. .
 Endoplasmic Reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is one of the main manufacturing facilities within the cell.
It consists of a system of membranous channels and saccules that is physically
continuous with the nuclear envelope.
There are thousands of ribosomes attached to
the outer surface of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum.

These ribosomes produce proteins that will be

inserted into the growing endoplasmic
reticulum membrane, transported to other
organelles and eventually exported.
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is continuous
with the nuclear envelope and the rough endoplasmic
reticulum but it does not have attached ribosomes.

Enzymes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum are

important in the synthesis of lipids, including oils,
phospholipids, and steroids. Another function of
smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the storage of ions.
 GOLGI BODIES

An organelle named for its

discoverer, an Italian scientist
named Camillo Golgi, the Golgi
apparatus or Golgi bodies work in
close partnership with the
endoplasmic reticulum.

Camillo Golgi
 Golgi Bodies
It serves as a warehouse and processing
station for products manufactured by the
endoplasmic reticulum. Products made in
the endoplasmic reticulum reach the Golgi
bodies in transport vesicles. Enzymes in the
Golgi body put finishing touches on
proteins and lipids that have been delivered
from the endoplasmic reticulum. The
finished products of Golgi bodies are sorted
and packaged into new vesicles that carry
them to the plasma membrane or to
lysosomes.
 Lysosomes
A lysosome is a membrane-enclosed sac of digestive enzymes that is
absent in plant cells. It is developed from vesicles that bud off from the
Golgi bodies. It has a very low pH and stores powerful hydrolytic-enzymes
in an inactive state.
 Cells enclosed damaged organelles or small amounts of cytosol
in membrane sacs. A lysosome fuses with such a vesicle and
dismantles its contents, making organic molecules available for
reuse. The cell continually renews itself.

The importance of lysosomes to cell function and human health is

clearly described by the hereditary disorder called lysosomal storage
disease. A person with such a disease is missing one or more of the
digestive enzymes normally found within the lysosomes. Most cases of
this disease are fatal in early childhood. In Tay-Sachs disease,
lysosomes lack a lipid-digesting enzyme which results in the death of
nerve cells as they accumulate excess lipids.
 Peroxisomes
Similar to lysosomes, peroxisomes are membrane-bounded
vesicles that enclose enzymes. These enzymes are
synthesized by free ribosomes. Although resembling
lysosome in size and function, peroxisomes originate from
the endoplasmic reticulum and contain different enzymes.
All peroxisomes contain enzymes that
result in the creation of hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2 ) which is a toxic
molecule that is immediately broken
down to water (H2O) and oxygen (O2 )
by another peroxisomal enzyme called
catalase.
Peroxisomes perform metabolic
assistance to organelles. They have
varied functions but they specialize in
synthesizing and breaking down lipids.
.
 Vacuoles
The large sacs of membrane or vesicles that
bud from the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
bodies, or plasma membrane are called
vacuoles.

These have a variety of functions. The central

vacuole of a plant cell is a versatile
compartment that stores organic nutrients,
such as proteins and poisons, that protect
against plant-eating animals. It takes up to
90% of the cell’s volume which is filled with
fluid called cell sap that gives added support
to the cell.
 The Energy Houses

The cell needs energy houses that can manage the

production of ATP. The cell requires a continuous supply of
energy to perform the work of life. Energy is very important
in every cellular process because it powers each process
to make it possible for the cell to survive.
 Mitochondria
All eukaryotic cells contain mitochondria (sing. mitochondrion). The number of
mitochondria in a cell can vary depending on the metabolic activities and energy
needed within the cell.
Both membranes have a phospholipid
bilayer with a unique collection of
embedded proteins. Its inner
membrane is highly convoluted into
folds called cristae that project into
the matrix which adds tremendous
surface area to the inner membrane.
By increasing the surface area of this
membrane, the cristae maximize ATP
output. The inner membrane encloses
a semifluid matrix that contains
mitochondrial DNA and ribosomes.
 Mitochondria are often called “the powerhouse of the cell”.

- it converts the chemical energy of foods that produce most

of the cell’s ATP in the process of cellular respiration, wherein
the oxygen is used and the carbon dioxide is given off.
 Chloroplasts are unique to plant and algal
cells which perform photosynthesis. This is
Chloroplasts the process in which the light energy from
the sun is converted to chemical energy and
other organic molecules.
The compartment inside the inner
membrane holds a thick fluid called stroma,
which contains enzymes and the
chloroplast’s own DNA, and the interior of a
network of membrane-enclosed disks and
tubes. A network of interconnected sacs
called thylakoids is suspended in the
stroma. Disks that occur in the
interconnected stack are called grana are
the chloroplast’s solar power packs which
trap light energy and convert it to chemical
energy.
 Mitochondria vs. Chloroplast

Mitochondria are present in all eukaryotic cells including plant and

algal cells. Even though mitochondria are smaller than chloroplasts,
they can usually be seen using a light microscope. The number of
mitochondria can vary depending on the metabolic activities and
energy needed within a cell. For example, the skeleatal muscles of
humans have multiple mitochondria.
On the other hand, chloroplasts are only present in plant cells and some algal cells have one
chloroplast only. It can be quite large, twice as wide and as much as five times the length of
the mitochondria. Chloroplasts have a three-membrane system. The grana are the solar
power packs of the chloroplasts which trap light energy and convert it into chemical energy.
End