The Cell

Structure and Function

a
History of Cells
Zaccharias Janssen and son Hans Janssen
1590
Robert Hooke was the 1st to view cells. Piece of
cork 1665
1674 – Anton van Leeuwenhoek built a simple
microscope with only one lens to examine blood,
yeast, insects and bacteria.
Electron scope 1931, STM 1981
Isolating Organelles by Cell
Fractionation
Cell fractionation
isolate (fractionate) cell components, based on size
and density.
Blend and centrifuge cells at various speeds
 Homogenization
Tissue
cells
1000 Homogenate
(1000 times the
force of gravity)
10 min Differential centrifugation
Supernatant poured
into next tube

20,000
20 min

80,000
Pellet rich in 60 min
nuclei and
cellular debris 150,000
3 hr
mitochondria
(and chloro-
plasts if cells
are from a (pieces of
plant) plasma mem-
branes and
Pellet rich in
cells’ internal
ribosomes
membranes)
Cell Theory

All living things are composed of cells

They are the smallest units of life
Cells come only from pre-existing cells
A view of the Cell
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
All cells have: plasma membrane, cytosol, DNA,
ribosomes.
Cell Size:
Most bacteria are 1-10 microns in diameter.
Eukaryotic cells are typically 10-100 microns in
diameter.
Animal Cell
Plant Cell
 Bacterial or Prokaryotic Cell
Pili: attachment structures on
the surface of some prokaryotes
Nucleoid: region where the
cell’s DNA is located (not
enclosed by a membrane)
Ribosomes: organelles that
synthesize proteins
Plasma membrane: membrane
enclosing the cytoplasm
Cell wall: rigid structure outside
the plasma membrane
Capsule: jelly-like outer coating
Bacterial of many prokaryotes
chromosome 0.5 µm

Flagella: locomotion (b) A thin section through the

(a) A typical
bacterium
rod-shaped bacterium organelles of
some bacteria (TEM)
Why are Cells Small?
Plasma Membrane
Made of a phospholipid bilayer, with polar
head on the lipid and non-polar tails
heads hydrophilic and tail hydrophobic
functions as a selective barrier
Fluid in nature with a mosaic proteins and
carbs embedded in it.
Plasma Membrane PIC.
The Nucleus
Contains DNA
mRNA and Ribosomes made here
about 5 microns in diameter
double membrane 7-8 nm with 20-40nm
perinuclear space in between.
3000-4000 pores in the nuclear membrane
120nm wide mass of 120 million daltons.
nucleolus which makes ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Continuous with ER
The Ribosome
Contain rRNA and protein.
Made of 2 subunits Total size 30nm
Large made of 45 proteins
Small made of 33 proteins
Number varies depending on cell 350,000+ and
up to the millions.
ribosomes and ribosomes
Function as a building site for proteins.
Ribosome Pic.
The Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
Continuous with the nucleus
Cisternae (flattened sacs)
Smooth and Rough ER.
Enzymes of smooth ER synthesize lipids,
including oils, phospholipids, and steroids
The rough ER mainly packages proteins made
on its ribosomes for into or across the
memebrane
Golgi Conmplex

Discovered by Camillo Golgi

Process and package secretory proteins and
produces complex polysaccharides .
consists of flattened membranous sacs
Involved in lysosome and peroxisome
production
Golgi
Lysosome
sac of hydrolytic enzymes (hydrolases)
digests macromolecules, can fuse to incoming
food vacuoles or other organelles
can break down proteins, fats, polysaccharides,
and nucleic acids.
lysosomes can destroy a cell.
lysosomal enzymes and membrane are
synthesized by rough ER and then transferred to
the Golgi.
lysosomes play a critical role in the apoptosis
Pic. Of Lysosomes
Peroxisomes

Make and break peroxide (H2O2), a poison, but

the peroxisome has another enzyme (catalase)
that converts H2O2 to water
break fatty acids down to smaller molecules
that are transported to mitochondria for fuel
detoxify alcohol and other harmful compounds
Vacuoles

Food vacuoles

Contractile vacuoles

Central vacuoles
Mitochondria

Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration

1um wide 3-5 long. Same as most bacteria?
Hundreds in a typical cell
Almost all eukaryotic cells have mitochondria
quite dynamic: moving, changing shape, and dividing.
Double membrane
Endosymbiotic Theory- Contain own DNA (circular),
mRNA, tRNA, and ribosomes (similar to prokaryotic
cells). Purple Bacteria and Cyanobacteria for plants
Are semiautonomous!
Mitochondria
Chloroplast

Chloroplasts, found in plants and eukaryotic

algae,
site of photosynthesis
Chloroplasts get their color from high levels of
the green pigment chlorophyll
Endosymbiotic as well!
Cytoskeleton

network of fibers extending throughout the cytoplasm

in 3 dimensions
organizes the structures and activities of the cell.
provides support and maintains shape of the cell.
Is dynamic, dismantling in one part and reassembling
in another to change cell shape
plays a major role in cell motility.
three main types of fibers in the cytoskeleton:
microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.
Cilia and Flagella

move unicellular and small multicellular organisms by

propelling water past the organism
cilia sweep mucus carrying trapped debris from the
lungs.
Flagella and cilia are about the same width but flagella
are much longer.
flagellum has an undulatory movement
Cilia move more like oars
Cilia and Flagella
Cell Junctions

Plant cells have plasmodesmata

Animal: 3 main types of intercellular links:
Tight junctions

Desmosome

Gap junctions
 Cell walls

Interior
of cell

Interior
of cell

Figure 6.30 0.5 µm Plasmodesmata Plasma membranes