Lesson 1.

Components of the Cell:

Major Parts of the Cell

General Biology 1[1/2]

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
In cities, buildings
cater various forms
of services to
increase
productivity. They
also have structures
and other security
measures that
regulate the entry
and exit of people.
2
Our cells also rely on
biomolecules that
provide shape and
rigidity to them. In
addition, our cells
manage to become
selective to the
molecules that will
move through it.
3
How can one distinguish the
major parts of the cell?

4
Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Describe the structure and function of the

major organelles (STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-2).

5
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Distinguish between the different structural components

of the plasma membrane.

● Describe the diverse roles of proteins in membranes.

● Compare the structure and function of microfilaments,

intermediate filaments, and microtubules.

6
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Describe the function and composition of cytoplasm.

● Describe the structure and function of the cell wall.

7
Overview of the Regions of the Cell

The cell has three major divisions, namely, the plasma

membrane, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus.
8
Overview of the Regions of the Cell

The cell consists of both membrane-bound and

non-membrane-bound organelles. 9
How do the major cellular
structures help in the different
cellular processes?

10
 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane

Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall

The plasma membrane is the cell’s primary barrier. 11

 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● Cell membrane or plasma membrane
separates the cytoplasm from external
Cytoskeleton
environment.

Cytoplasm ● It comprises the following:

❖ phospholipids ❖ glycolipids
Cell Wall ❖ cholesterol ❖ glycoproteins
❖ membrane proteins
12
 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● Each of the phospholipids consists of
the following:
Cytoskeleton
○ head region
■ phosphate group
Cytoplasm ■ hydrophilic
○ tail region
Cell Wall ■ two fatty acid chains
■ hydrophobic
13
 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● Phospholipids make up the phospholipid
bilayer.
Cytoskeleton
○ two phospholipid layers
■ Phosphate heads face the
Cytoplasm cytoplasm and the cell’s exterior.
■ Fatty acid tails are sandwiched.
Cell Wall

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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● The fluid mosaic model describes the
membrane structure.
Cytoskeleton
○ mosaic of different molecules such
as proteins, sugars, and cholesterol
Cytoplasm ○ fluidity due to its natural viscosity

Cell Wall

15
 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● Membrane fluidity is determined by:
○ the “kinks” in the fatty acid tails of
Cytoskeleton
the phospholipids
○ the cholesterol molecules which act
Cytoplasm as regulators of fluidity

Cell Wall

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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
● Selective permeability is an important
property of the lipid bilayer, in which it
Cytoskeleton
only allows certain molecules to move
into and out of the cell.
Cytoplasm

Cell Wall

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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
Permeable

Cytoskeleton
Lipids Alcohol small molecules

Cytoplasm

carbon
oxygen nitrogen dioxide
water
Cell Wall

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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
Impermeable

Cytoskeleton
polar molecules large molecules

Cytoplasm

amino nucleic
glucose proteins
Cell Wall acids acids

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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane

Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall
Transport proteins in the membrane may either be in the
form of carrier proteins or channel proteins
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 Structural Components of the Plasma Membrane
Roles of Roles of
Structure Lipid Bilayer Membrane Proteins
Plasma Membrane
channel passageway of certain
proteins molecules

Membrane Proteins
Cytoskeleton
change conformation
carrier proteins
to transport molecules

Cytoplasm
cell recognition detect invading
proteins pathogens

Cell Wall
receptor binding of molecules to
proteins trigger responses
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 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● This consists of a
network of
Cytoskeleton
protein fibers that
gives the cell its
Cytoplasm structural
framework.
Cell Wall The cytoskeletal elements can
be observed by using
fluorescence techniques. 22
 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane

Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

In addition to providing a structural framework to the cell, the

Cell Wall
cytoskeleton also serves other functions such as movement of
organelles, macromolecules, and chromosomes.
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 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● These consist of helically arranged
globular proteins called tubulin.
Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall
A microtubule is a helix of
ɑ-tubulin and β-tubulin subunits.
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 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● It radiate from the centrosomes
● Form spindle fibers that move chromosomes
Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall
A microtubule is a helix of
ɑ-tubulin and β-tubulin subunits.
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 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● They consist of
long fibers of
Cytoskeleton
actin protein,
making them the
Cytoplasm thinnest
cytoskeleton.
Cell Wall Fluorescent actin
microfilaments from mouse
embryo 26
 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● They help
facilitate cell and
Cytoskeleton
organelle
movement.
Cytoplasm ● They can help
change the
Cell Wall shape of the cell. Fluorescent actin
microfilaments from mouse
embryo 27
 The Cytoskeletal Elements
Intermediate
Microtubules Microfilaments Filaments
Plasma Membrane
● Helps maintain cell shape
● Anchors the nucleus
Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall
Intermediate filaments provide structural integrity
to the plasma membrane
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 Structural Components of the Cytoplasm

Plasma Membrane
● This is where
all different
subcellular
Cytoskeleton
structures are
suspended.
Cytoplasm

Cross-section view of a plant

cell showing organelles in the
Cell Wall cytoplasm

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 Structural Components of the Cytoplasm

Plasma Membrane
● It is composed
of the cytosol,
a semifluid
Cytoskeleton
solution that
consists of
Cytoplasm water and
inorganic and Cross-section view of a plant

Cell Wall organic cell showing organelles in the

cytoplasm
molecules.
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 Structural Components of the Cell Wall

Plasma Membrane
● Cell wall is a rigid structure that
surrounds the cell membrane.

Cytoskeleton
● It helps maintain the shape of cells and
prevent them from bursting.
Cytoplasm

Cell Wall

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 Structural Components of the Cell Wall

Plasma Membrane
● Most bacteria
have cell wall
made up of
Cytoskeleton
peptidoglycan.

Cytoplasm ● The cell wall in

some fungi
Cell Wall consists of Bacterial cell capsule
chitin. consists of peptidoglycan
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 Structural Components of the Cell Wall

Plasma Membrane
● In plant cells, the cell wall consists of
mesh-like cellulose fibers.

Cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm

Cell Wall
Plant cell walls prevent the cell from bursting should
excess water is absorbed. 33
Is it possible to make an
artificial cell from scratch?

34
 Check Your Understanding

Identify the major cellular structure being

described in each of the following items.
1. It is a major organelle that is composed of hydrophilic
heads and hydrophobic tails.
2. It is a group of membrane proteins that changes their
shape to be able to transport substances into and out of
the cell.
3. It is a rigid structure that provides protection and
support to bacterial, plant, and fungal cells.
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 Check Your Understanding

In each of the given situations below, determine

which cellular structure is involved. Thereafter,
briefly justify your answer.
1. Polar substances cannot pass through the middle part
of the cell’s barrier.
2. This membrane protein changes its shape when certain
molecules are bound to it.
3. This is the most stable cytoskeletal element also gives
strength to the skin.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The cell is divided into main regions:

○ The plasma membrane is mostly composed of
phospholipids. It serves as the primary barrier of the
cell and is semi-permeable in nature.
○ The cytoskeleton is composed of microtubules,
microfilaments, and intermediate filaments. The
cytoskeletal elements provide support and
framework and facilitate motility in cells.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The cell is divided into main regions:

○ The cytoplasm is a jelly-like structure composed of
the semi-fluid cytosol where all organelles and other
cellular contents are immersed or suspended.
○ The cell wall is made up of peptidoglycan in
bacterial cells and cellulose in plant cells. It gives a
rigid structure for the cell and prevents it from
bursting.

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Let’s Sum It Up!

The plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, and cell wall all

contribute to the cell’s maintenance and survival.
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Challenge Yourself

A pathogen invaded an organism’s

body. Justify how some cells of the
body will recognize it to elicit the
necessary immune response.

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 Photo Credit Bibliography
Hoefnagels, Marielle. Biology: The Essentials.
2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2016.

Mader, Sylvia S., and Michael Windelspecht.

Biology. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2014.
● Slide 26-27: MEF microfilaments by Y tambe
Reece, Jane B, Martha R. Taylor, Eric J. Simon, Jean
is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via
L. Dickey, and Kelly Hogan. Biology
Wikipedia. Concepts and Connections. 8th ed. Pearson
Education South Asia Pte Ltd, 2016.

Simon, Eric J., and Jane B. Reece. Campbell

Essential Biology. 5th ed. Pearson Education Inc.
2013.

Starr, Cecie, Christine A. Evers, and Lisa Starr.

Biology Today and Tomorrow. 4th ed. Cengage
Learning Asia Pte Ltd, 2014. 41