CBS – L1 – Cells and Organelles

L/O: Nature of cells and subcellular organelles (with approximate dimensions).

Cells:
 Fundamental units of life  All living higher organisms are composed of communities of cells.
 Individual cells perform specialised functions.
 Semi-independent, living unit within the body  Facilitates for metabolism, growth, and division.
 Unicellular organisms, are completely independent.
 Membrane  Surrounds aqueous solution of organic molecules.
Organelles:
 Subunit within a cell  Defined structure and performing specific, integrated activities.
 Either membranous or non-membranous.
Tissue:
 Organised assembly of cells and their extracellular products (secretions).
 Coordinated to perform specific functions within the body.
 CT, lymphoid tissue.
Organ:
 Organised assembly of tissues.
 Coordinated to perform specific functions within the body.
 Eye, ear, heart, lungs, liver.
System:
 Organised assembly of organs.
 Coordinated specific, related activities, sharing regulatory influences.
 Respiratory system.
 Diffuse functional network of cells situated in many parts of the body, sharing specific activities.
 Immune system.
L/O: Definitions of eukaryote, prokaryote, and virus.
Prokaryote:
 Single-celled organism.
 Chromosome  Free floating
single circular strand.
 No membranous organelles.
 Bacteria.
Eukaryote:
 1+ more cells.
 Chromosome  Enclosed in
nucleus, linear strands.
 Plants, fungi, animals,
protozoa, algae.
 Cytoplasmic membranous
organelles.
Virus:
 Nucleic acid  DNA or RNA.
 Proteins.
 Lack PM and only operate
chemically within host cells 
Thus not a cell or organism, strictly.
 Invade cells  Subvert protein
machinery  Replicate 
Infect other cells.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
L/O: Nature of cytoplasm, nucleus, plasma membrane (PM), lysosome, peroxisome, smooth endoplasmic
reticulum (SER), rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), Golgi body, cytoskeleton, mitochondrion, nuclear envelope,
chromatin, nucleolus. Indicate the biochemical functions of these compartments and organelles.
EM:
 Imaging can visualise and reveal subcellular details.
 Transmission EM.
 Higher resolution  Visualises within cell.
 e- go through the specimen.
 Scanning EM.
 Lower resolution  Visualises cell surface.
 e- scatter off cell surface by metal coating.
Diffusion limit:
 Diffusion at distance <50 um is efficient and reduced >50 um.
 Rate of diffusion limits the maximum size of a cell.
 Distance from nucleus to periphery  Influences movement of intermediates, waste products and nutrients.
 Gap junctions, thin processes, and giant multinucleate cells  Facilitate the communication between different
cells.

Cytoskeleton:
 Protein filaments including actin, intermediate filaments, and microtubules.
 Contribute to mechanical strength, control shape and drive/guide movement of materials.
 Cytosol  Aqueous environment within the PM.
 Cytoplasm  Cytosol and organelles.
Nucleus:
 Largest organelle in the cell (3 - 10 um).
 Only organelle visible by a light microscope.
 Genetic material is packaged.
 DNA (1.8 m) condensed and organised  Chromosomes (120 um)  Chromatin.
 Complex of DNA/histone and non-histone proteins.
 Nucleosomes (95 mm).
 DNA winds round histones into nucleosomes.
 Nucleolus:
 rDNA is transcribed and ribosome subunits assembled.
 Nuclear envelope:
 Surrounds nucleus by 2 layers of membrane.
 Nuclear pores:
 Facilitates transport of DNA in and out of nucleus.
mt:
 2 layers of membrane, measures 0.5 - 2 um long.
 Contains DNA.
 Cristae  Inner membrane infolds increases SA.
 Involved in:
 Krebs cycle  Oxidises sugar to generate ATP.
 Number per cell reflects metabolic activity.
SER:
 Involved in:
 Biosynthesis of membrane lipids and steroids.
 N-linked glycosylation.
 Detoxification of xenobiotics e.g. P450 system.
RER:
 Ribosome coated.
 Site of translation of proteins inserted/secreted into/out of PM.
 Proteins are folded  cys-cys bridges form.
 Vesicles bud from RER and transported to the Golgi body.
Golgi body:
 4 – 8 closely stacked cisterna – membrane bound channels.
 Modifies proteins delivered from RER via vesicles.
 Glycosylation:
 N-linked glycosylation, O-linked glycosylation and lipids.
 Synthesises/packages secreted material  Directs new proteins in vesicles to their correct compartments.
 Acts as a sorting office.
 Transports membrane lipids around cells.
 Creates lysosomes.
Secretory vesicles:
 Bud off from the Golgi  Fuse with inner PM  Exocytose hormones and NTs.
Peroxisomes:
 Not electron dense; large (0.5 - 1.5 um).
 Involved in:
 Detoxification.
 Phospholipid synthesis e.g. plasmalogens.
 VLCFA oxidation.
 Generation and degradation of H2O2.
Lysosomes:
 Electron dense; membrane-bound (0.2 – 0.5 um).
 >50 different hydrolytic enzymes can hydrolyse all major cellular macromolecules.
 Requires acidic pH.
 Involved in:
 Autophagy  Organelle turnover/replacement.