Cell Structure and Function
Prepared by: Dr. Zareen Ashraf
MBBS, [Link](II)
Cells
• Smallest living unit
• Most are microscopic
Cell theory
• (1839)Theodor Schwann & Matthias Schleiden
“ all living things are made of cells”
• (50 yrs. later) Rudolf Virchow
“all cells come from cells”
Principles of Cell Theory
• All living things are made of cells
• Smallest living unit of structure and
function of all organisms is the cell
• All cells arise from preexisting cells
(this principle discarded the idea of
spontaneous generation)
Cell Size
Characteristics of All Cells
• A surrounding membrane
• Protoplasm – cell contents in thick fluid
• Organelles – structures for cell function
• Control center with DNA
Cell Types
• Prokaryotic
• Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic Cells
• First cell type on earth
• Cell type of Bacteria etc
Prokaryotic Cells
• No membrane bound nucleus
• Nucleoid = region of DNA concentration
• Organelles not bound by membranes
Eukaryotic Cells
• Nucleus bound by membrane
• Include fungi, protists, plant,
and animal cells
• Possess many organelles
Protozoan
Representative Animal Cell
Organelles
• Cellular machinery
Plasma Membrane
• Contains cell contents
• Double layer of phospholipids & proteins
Phospholipids
• Polar
– Hydrophylic head
– Hydrophobic tail
• Interacts with water
Movement Across the Plasma Membrane
• A few molecules move freely
– Water, Carbon dioxide, Ammonia, Oxygen
• Carrier proteins transport some molecules
– Proteins embedded in lipid bilayer
– Fluid mosaic model – describes fluid nature of
a lipid bilayer with proteins
Membrane Proteins
1. Channels or transporters
– Move molecules in one direction
2. Receptors
– Recognize certain chemicals
Membrane Proteins
3. Glycoproteins
– Identify cell type
4. Enzymes
– Catalyze production of substances
Cytoplasm
• Viscous fluid containing organelles
• components of cytoplasm
– Interconnected filaments & fibers
– Fluid = cytosol
– Organelles(not nucleus)
– storage substances
Cytoskeleton
• Filaments & fibers
• Made of 3 fiber types
– Microfilaments
– Microtubules
– Intermediate filaments
• 3 functions:
– mechanical support
– anchor organelles
– help move
substances
A = actin, IF = intermediate filament, MT = microtubule
Cilia & Flagella
• Provide motility
• Cilia
– Short
– Used to move substances
outside human cells
• Flagella
– Whip-like extensions
– Found on sperm cells
• Basal bodies like
centrioles
Cilia & Flagella Structure
• Bundles of microtubules
• With plasma membrane
Centrioles
• Pairs of microtubular structures
• Play a role in cell division
Membranous Organelles
• Functional components within cytoplasm
• Bound by membranes
Nucleus
• Control center of cell
• Double membrane
• Contains
– Chromosomes
– Nucleolus
Nuclear Envelope
• Separates nucleus from rest of cell
• Double membrane
• Has pores
DNA
• Hereditary material
• Chromosomes
– DNA
– Protiens
– Form for cell division
• Chromatin
Nucleolus
• Most cells have 2 or more
• Directs synthesis of RNA
• Forms ribosomes
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Helps move substances within cells
• Network of interconnected membranes
• Two types
– Rough endoplasmic reticulum
– Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Ribosomes attached to surface
– Manufacture protiens
– Not all ribosomes attached to rough ER
• May modify proteins from ribosomes
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• No attached ribosomes
• Has enzymes that help build molecules
– Carbohydrates
– Lipids
Golgi Apparatus
• LM: small structure of irregular shape
• EM: made up of membrnes similar to ER. The
membranes form walls of a number of
flattened sacs that are stacked over one
another. Towards their margins the sacs are
continuous with small rounded vesicles
• Packaging & shipping station of cell &
carbohydrate production
Golgi Apparatus Function
1. Molecules come in vesicles e.g
proteins from RER.
2. Vesicles fuse with Golgi membrane
3. Molecules may be modified by Golgi
( protein is purified by sacs) ,make
carbohydrate & protein comple
Golgi Apparatus Function
(Continued)
4. Molecules pinched-off in separate vesicle
5. Vesicle leaves Golgi apparatus
6. Vesicles may combine with plasma
membrane to secrete contents
Membrane Bound Vesicles
• Phagosome
• Pinocytic Vesicles
• Exocytic Vesicles
• Secretory Granules
• Lysosmes
• Peroxisomes
Lysosomes
• Contain digestive enzymes
• Formation: REP- Golgi –Vesicles
• Vesicles: Phagolysosome
Multi vesicular body
Residual body
• Functions
– Aid in cell renewal
– Break down old cell parts
– Digests invaders ( bacteria)
Mitochondria
• Have their own DNA
• Bound by double membrane
Mitochondria
• Break down fuel molecules (cellular respiration)
– Glucose
– Fatty acids
• Release energy
– ATP
Review of Eukaryotic Cells
Endocytosis
• Movement of large material
– Particles
– Organisms
– Large molecules
• Movement is into cells
• Types of endocytosis
– bulk-phase (nonspecific)
– receptor-mediated (specific)
Process of Endocytosis
• Plasma membrane surrounds material
• Edges of membrane meet
• Membranes fuse to form vesicle
Forms of Endocytosis
• Phagocytosis – cell eating
• Pinocytosis – cell drinking
Exocytosis
• Reverse of endocytosis
• Cell discharges material
Exocytosis
• Vesicle moves to cell surface
• Membrane of vesicle fuses
• Materials expelled
End Chapter 5
