BM101: BIOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS

Eukaryotic Cells (Continued)

Instructor: Yashveer Singh, PhD

Slides courtesy: Dr. Durba Pal

28 August 2019 1
Centriole
▪ Found only in animal cells

▪ Play a role in building cilia and flagella and

involved in the development of spindle fibers
during the cell division (see the bottom figure, will
be taught later during cell division)

▪ It is a cylindrical cellular organelle composed

mainly of a protein called tubulin

▪ Paired organelles found together near the

nucleus, at right angles to each other.

2
 Mitochondria
▪ Bound by a double membrane and first
observed by Richard Altman in 1894 and
named by Carl Benda (1898)
▪ Average size is 0.5-1 mm and number
depends on the cell type. Average liver cell
contains 1500 mitochondria
▪ Outer and inner membrane
▪ Inner membrane is folded into cristae (will
be taught later during metabolism) to
expands the surface area and enhancing its
ability to produce ATP
▪ Matrix carries enzymes, DNA, ribosomes,
granules
▪ Stores information that are essential for its
Richard Altman growth, function, and multiplication
3
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
▪ Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a continuous membrane
system that forms a series of flattened sacs within
the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.

▪ Smooth ER is not associated with ribosomes, and its

wall looks smooth
▪ Rough ER has rough appearance due to the attachment
of ribosomes on its outer (cytoplasmic) surface
▪ Rough ER runs continuous with the nuclear membrane
▪ SER plays a role in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism
and detoxification of foreign substances in liver. Produce
steroid hormones in testes and ovaries. They also store
and release calcium ions

4
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
▪ The RER influences the
overall rate of
protein synthesis

▪ Ribosomes on RER specialize

in the synthesis of proteins

▪ Proteins synthesized by the

rough ER are transferred into
its lumen and undergo folding,
modification, and assembly

▪ Proteins either remain within

the RER, or sent to the Golgi
complexes
5
Golgi Apparatus
▪ Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex are
membrane bound organelle of eukaryotic cells. It
is made up of a series of flattened, stacked
pouches called cisternae

▪ The Golgi apparatus is responsible for

modifying, storing, transporting, and
packaging proteins and lipids into vesicles for
delivery to targeted destinations

▪ Proteins secreted from the Golgi apparatus are

directed to lysosomes or to the cell membrane
for secretion to the cell exterior

▪ Works with the ribosomes and RER

6
 Golgi Apparatus

▪ Soluble and secretory proteins leaving the Golgi apparatus undergo exocytosis

▪ The secretion of soluble proteins occurs constitutively but the exocytosis of secretory
proteins requires the presence of a ligand to bind to a receptor, triggering vesicle fusion
and protein secretion
7
Ribosomes
▪ Small organelles not bound by a membrane. Made
of proteins and ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA)

▪ Contain large and small subunits, which assembles

together during the protein synthesis but dissemble
after the protein synthesis

▪ Site of protein synthesis (will be taught during

translation)

▪ Either free floating or attached to the endoplasmic

reticulum

8
 Lysosomes
▪ Specialized membrane bound vesicles within animal
cells that digest large molecules, microorganisms, and
obsolete matter, through the use of hydrolytic enzymes

▪ Also plays a role in transporting molecules within the

cell and getting rid of waste products of the cell

▪ A human cell contains around 300 lysosomes

▪ It has acidic pH and contain over 60 different

enzymes, which work at acidic pH (acid hydrolases) and
allows them to carry out the hydrolysis

9
 Lysosomes
▪ The degradation process is called
autophagy (eating oneself)

▪ There are two types of transport protein

that work together to pump H+ and Cl-
from the cytosol to lysosomes via plasma
membrane

▪ Acidic pH is necessary for protein

denaturation and enzyme activity

Lodish Molecular Cell Biology 10

Peroxisomes
▪ Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles in
most eukaryotic cells, primarily involved in lipid
metabolism and the conversion of reactive oxygen
species such as hydrogen peroxide into safer
molecules like water and oxygen

▪ These organelles can vary in shape, size and number

depending on the energy needs of the cell.

▪ Enzymes in peroxisomes are oxidases that catalyze

redox reactions

11
Nucleus
▪ Nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane,
often continuous with the ER
▪ The membrane has nuclear pores to allow the
transport of biomolecules in and out of the
nucleus
▪ Nuclear lamina is a meshwork of protein to
provide structural rigidity
▪ Chromatins, complex of DNA with proteins, are
present in the nucleus. Thus, it regulates the
growth and metabolism of a cell and stores the
hereditary information (gene)
▪ RNA synthesis apparatus is also present
▪ Nucleolus is where rRNA and proteins are
produced to assemble ribosomes
▪ Nuclear components are suspended in a gel-
like matrix, called nucleoplasm
▪ Will be taught again in cell division 12
 Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

http://www.zoology.ubc.ca

▪ The space between cells is filled with extracellular matrix consisting of proteoglycans (e.g.,
heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate), polysaccharides (e.g., hyaluronic acid),
and proteins (e.g., collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminin)

▪ Proteins, like collagen or elastin, provide the tensile strength and elasticity, whereas
carbohydrate forms gel that expands to fill the extracellular space

Lodish Molecular Cell Biology 13

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
▪ Forms skin, bones, and tendons

▪ The ECM also forms extracellular structures

such as the cornea of the eye and filtering
networks in the kidney

▪ It plays a key role in regulating a cells

behavior, like cell division, adhesion, motility,
and reactions to wounds

jonlieffmd.com

Lodish Molecular Cell Biology 14

 Do it yourself
▪ Read section The Eukaryotic Cell of Chapter 1 – Cells: The Fundamental
Units of Life from Essential Cell Biology, B. Alberts, D. Bray, K. Hopkin, A.
Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, and P. Walter, Garland Science, IV
Edition, 2014

15