The Role of Cytoplasm in a Cell

Cytoplasm consists of all of the contents outside of the nucleus and enclosed
within the cell membrane of a cell. It is clear in color and has a gel-like
appearance. Cytoplasm is composed mainly of water but also contains enzymes,
salts, organelles, and various organic molecules.

Cytoplasm Functions

 The cytoplasm functions to support and suspend organelles and cellular

molecules.

 Many cellular processes also occur in the cytoplasm, such as protein

synthesis, the first stage of cellular respiration (known
as glycolysis), mitosis, and meiosis.

 The cytoplasm helps to move materials, such as hormones, around the cell
and also dissolves cellular waste.

Divisions

The cytoplasm can be divided into two primary parts: the endoplasm (endo-,-
plasm) and ectoplasm (ecto-,-plasm). The endoplasm is the central area of the
cytoplasm that contains the organelles. The ectoplasm is the more gel-like
peripheral portion of the cytoplasm of a cell.

Components

Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria and Achaeans, do not have a membrane-bound

nucleus. In these cells, the cytoplasm consists of all of the contents of the cell
inside the plasma membrane. In eukaryotic cells, such as plant and animal cells,
the cytoplasm consists of three main components. They are the cytosol, organelles,
and various particles and granules called cytoplasmic inclusions.

 Cytosol: The cytosol is the semi-fluid component or liquid medium of a

cell's cytoplasm. It is located outside of the nucleus and within the cell
membrane.
  Organelles: Organelles are tiny cellular structures that perform specific
functions within a cell. Examples of organelles
include mitochondria, ribosomes,
nucleus, lysosomes, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi
apparatus. Also located within the cytoplasm is the cytoskeleton, a network
of fibers that help the cell maintain its shape and provide support for
organelles.

 Cytoplasmic Inclusions: Cytoplasmic inclusions are particles that are

temporarily suspended in the cytoplasm. Inclusions consist of
macromolecules and granules. Three types of inclusions found in the
cytoplasm are secretory inclusions, nutritive inclusions, and pigment
granules. Examples of secretory inclusions are proteins, enzymes, and acids.
Glycogen (glucose storage molecule) and lipids are examples of nutritive
inclusions. Melanin found in skin cells is an example of a pigment granule
inclusion.

Cytoplasmic Streaming

Cytoplasmic streaming, or cyclosis, is a process by which substances are circulated

within a cell. Cytoplasmic streaming occurs in a number of cell types
including plant cells, amoeba, protozoa, and fungi. Cytoplasmic movement may be
influenced by several factors including the presence of certain chemicals,
hormones, or changes in light or temperature.

Plants employ cyclosis to shuttle chloroplasts to areas receiving the most available
sunlight. Chloroplasts are the plant organelles responsible for photosynthesis and
require light for the process. In protists, such as amoebae and slime molds,
cytoplasmic streaming is used for locomotion. Temporary extensions of the
cytoplasm known as pseudopodia are generated that are valuable for movement
and capturing food. Cytoplasmic streaming is also required for cell division as the
cytoplasm must be distributed among daughter cells formed in mitosis and meiosis.

Cell Membrane

The cell membrane or plasma membrane is the structure that keeps cytoplasm from
spilling out of a cell. This membrane is composed of phospholipids, which form a
lipid bilayer that separates the contents of a cell from the extracellular fluid. The
lipid bilayer is semi-permeable, meaning that only certain molecules are able
to diffuse across the membrane to enter or exit the cell. Extracellular
fluid, proteins, lipids, and other molecules may be added to a cell's cytoplasm by
endocytosis. In this process, molecules and extracellular fluid are internalized as
the membrane turns inward forming a vesicle. The vesicle encloses the fluid and
molecules and buds off from the cell membrane forming an endosome. The
endosome moves within the cell to deliver its contents to their appropriate
destinations. Substances are removed from the cytoplasm by exocytosis. In this
process, vesicles budding from Golgi bodies fuse with the cell membrane expelling
their contents from the cell. The cell membrane also provides structural support for
a cell by serving as a stable platform for the attachment of the cytoskeleton and cell
wall (in plants).

Nucleus
The cell nucleus is a membrane-bound structure that contains a cell's hereditary
information and controls its growth and reproduction. It is the command center of a
eukaryotic cell and is usually the most notable cell organelle in both size and
function.

Function

The key function of the nucleus is to control cell growth and multiplication. This
involves regulating gene expression, initiating cellular reproduction, and storing
genetic material necessary for all of these tasks. In order for a nucleus to carry out
important reproductive roles and other cell activities, it needs proteins and
ribosomes.

Protein and Ribosome Synthesis

The nucleus regulates the synthesis of proteins in the cytoplasm through the use of
messenger RNA (mRNA). Messenger RNA is a transcribed DNA segment that
serves as a template for protein production. It is produced in the nucleus and
travels to the cytoplasm through the nuclear pores of the nuclear envelope, which
you'll read about below. Once in the cytoplasm, ribosomes and another RNA
molecule called transfer RNA work together to translate mRNA in order to
produce proteins.

Physical Characteristics

The shape of a nucleus varies from cell to cell but is often depicted as spherical. To
understand more about the role of the nucleus, read about the structure and
function of each of its parts.

Nuclear Envelope and Nuclear Pores

The cell nucleus is bound by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
This membrane separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm, the gel-
like substance containing all other organelles. The nuclear envelope consists
of phospholipids that form a lipid bilayer much like that of the cell membrane. This
lipid bilayer has nuclear pores that allow substances to enter and exit the nucleus,
or transfer from the cytoplasm to the nucleoplasm.

The nuclear envelope helps to maintain the shape of the nucleus. It is connected to
the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in such a way that the internal chamber of the
nuclear envelope is continuous with the lumen, or inside, of the ER. This also
allows the transfer of materials as well.

Chromatin

The nucleus houses chromosomes containing DNA. DNA holds heredity

information and instructions for cell growth, development, and reproduction. When
a cell is "resting", or not dividing, its chromosomes are organized into long
entangled structures called chromatin.

Nucleoplasm

Nucleoplasm is the gelatinous substance within the nuclear envelope. Also called
karyoplasm, this semi-aqueous material is similar to cytoplasm in that it is
composed mainly of water with dissolved salts, enzymes, and organic molecules
suspended within. The nucleolus and chromosomes are surrounded by
nucleoplasm, which cushions and protects nuclear contents.
Like the nuclear envelope, the nucleoplasm supports the nucleus to hold its shape.
It also provides a medium by which materials, such as enzymes
and nucleotides (DNA and RNA subunits), can be transported throughout the
nucleus to its various parts.

Nucleolus

Contained within the nucleus is a dense, membrane-less structure composed of

RNA and proteins called the nucleolus. The nucleolus contains nucleolar
organizers, the parts of chromosomes carrying the genes for ribosome synthesis.
The nucleolus helps to synthesize ribosomes by transcribing and assembling
ribosomal RNA subunits. These subunits join together to form ribosomes during
protein synthesis.