LEC # 3
Cell Structures and Organelles
CELLS
Cells
 Cells are highly varied and highly organized
structures
 Their forms and functions are dependent on the
genetic expression by each cell type
 Bone, blood, nerve and muscle cells are somatic
cells, also called as body cells
 Somatic cells have two copies of the genome and
are said to be diploid
 Sperm and egg cells have only one copy of the
genome and are said to be haploid
Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
 Prokaryotes lack membrane bound nucleus as
opposed to the nucleated cells of the eukaryotes
 Membrane bound nucleus and specialized
organelles are also present in eukaryotic cells
Chemical
Constituents of
Cells
 Cells are composed of macromolecules important
in biological processes. The major groups of
these substances are: carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids.
 Carbohydrates provide energy
 Lipids form membranes and hormones, provide
insulation and store energy have many diverse
functions in the body, and are important in blood
clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction,
and immunity, while others serve and catalysts
 Most important in genetics are the nucleic acids
DNA and RNA
 All cells are surrounded by a plasma
membrane, a covering that defines cell
boundary
 The plasma membrane actively controls the
movement of materials in and out of the cell
 Most animal cells have glycocalyx or cell coat
 The glycocalyx provides biochemical identity
(markers) at the surface of cells, and the
components of the coat that establish cellular
identity are under genetic control
 The nucleus is a membrane bound structure
that houses the DNA, which is complex with
protein into thin fibers
 During the nondivisional phases of the cell
cycle, the fibers are uncoiled and dispersed
into chromatin
 During mitosis and meiosis, chromatin fibers
coil and condense into chromosomes
 The nucleolus, present, is where ribosomal
RNA is synthesized
 In prokaryotes, the genetic material is
compacted into an unenclosed region called
the nucleoid.
 Nuclear region – general area in which
genetic material are spread
 The DNA in prokaryotes is not associated
with proteins as is the case with eukaryotes
 The remainder of the cell within the plasma
membrane, excluding the nucleus, is called as
the cytoplasm and includes a variety of
organelles
 The endoplasmic reticulum appears smooth
in places where it serves as site for synthesis
of fatty acids and phospholipids, and in other
places, appears rough as it is studded with
ribosomes
 SER = synthesis of fats and lipit
 RER = proteins, surface studded with
ribosome
  Ribosomes are sites of protein synthesis,  In actively dividing skin cells, it forms a strong
guided by the information contained in the inner framework that firmly attaches cells to
Mrna each other and to the underlying tissue
 The mitochondria provide energy by breaking
down nutrients from food. The energy liberated
from food is captured and stored in the bonds
present in a molecule called adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)
 The centrioles are a pair of complex structure
that are located in a specialized region called the
centrosome.
 These are associated with the organization of
spindle fibers that function in mitosis and
meiosis.
 The organization of spindle fibers by the
centrioles plays an important role in the
movement of chromosomes during cell division
Cytoskeleton
 The cytoskeleton is a meshwork of protein rods
and tubules that molds the distinctive structures
of a cell, positioning organelles and providing
three-dimensional shape.
 The cytoskeleton includes three major types of
elements— microtubules, microfilaments, and
intermediate filaments.
 They are distinguished by protein type, diameter,
and how they aggregate into larger structures
Microtubules
 Microtubules are long and hollow
 It provide many cellular movements
 Composed of a pair of protein called tubulin
 They form the cilia, which are hair-like
structures
Microfilaments
 These are long, thin rods composed of many
molecules of the protein actin
 Solid and narrower than microtubules, they
enable cells to withstand stretching and
compression
 They also help anchor one cell to another
Intermediate filaments
 They have diameters intermediate between those
of microtubules and microfilaments
 They are abundant in skin and nerve cells