Cell Structure & Function

Dr. Sunita Bhagat

JR 1st year
Cell Structure
& Function
 What is a cell?
• Smallest unit of life that can carry out
all the functions of a living thing.
• Various sizes and shapes
• Organism- living thing
– Unicellular
– multicellular
 Microscope Development
• 1665 – Robert Hooke named cell
• 1674 – Anton von Leeuwenhoek - looked at
cells in pond water and blood and published
his observations
 Cell Theory Developed
• 1838 – Schleiden – all
plants are made of cells
• 1839 – Schwann – all
animals are made of cells

• 1855 – Virchow – all cells come from

pre-existing cells
 Modern Cell Theory
• Cells are the basic units of all life.
• All organisms are made of one or more
cells
• All cells come from pre-existing cells
 Microscopes
• Hand lens
• Compound light microscope
 Examples of Cells
Amoeba Proteus

Plant Stem

Bacteria

Red Blood Cell

Nerve Cell
 Two Types of Cells

•Prokaryotic
•Eukaryotic
 Types of Cells
• Prokaryotic • Eukaryotic
– Simple cell – Complex cell
– No membrane-bound – Membrane-bound
organelles organelles
– Chromosome not – Chromosomes
contained in nucleus contained in nucleus
– Small cells – Larger cells
– Ex - bacteria – Ex – all other
organisms
 Prokaryotic
• Do not have
structures
surrounded by
membranes
• Few internal
structures
• One-celled
organisms, Bacteria
 Eukaryotic
• Contain organelles surrounded by membranes
• Most living organisms

Plant Animal
 Animal Cell

Eukaryotic
Cell

Eukaryotic
Cell
Plant Cell
“Typical” Animal Cell
 A animal cell
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER) Nuclear
envelope
Nucleolu NUCLEU
Rough Smooth s S
ER ER Chromati
Flageliu n
m
Plasma
Centrosom
membrane
e

CYTOSKELETO
N
Microfilament
s
Intermediate
filaments
Microtubules Ribosome
s

Microvill
i
Golgi
apparatus
Peroxisom
e In animal cells but not plant
cells:
Lysosome Lysosomes
Mitochondrio Centrioles
Flagella (in some plant sperm)
n
“Typical” Plant Cell
• A plant cell Nuclear
envelope Rough
Nucleolu
NUCLEUS endoplasmic
s
Chromati reticulum
n Smooth
endoplasmic
Centrosome reticulum

Ribosomes (small brwon

dots)

Central
vacuole
Tonoplast
Golgi
apparatus Microfilament
s
Intermediate
CYTOSKELETO
filaments
N
Microtubule
s

Mitochondrio
n
Peroxisom
e
Plasma
membrane Chloroplas
Cell t
wall
Plasmodesmat
In plant cells but not animal
Wall of adjacent a cells:
cell Chloroplasts
Figure Central vacuole and tonoplast
Cell wall
6.9 Plasmodesmata
 Plant cells have some parts
that animal cells don’t
• Cell Wall
• Central Vacuole
• Plastids
– Chloroplasts
– Leukoplasts
– chromoplasts
 What animal cells have that
plant cells don’t
• Centrioles– function during cell
division
• Lysosomes – contain digestive
enzymes
Cell Parts
Organelles
Cellular Organelles – small,
specialized structures in the
Surrounding the Cell
Cell Membrane
• Outer membrane of cell
that controls movement
in and out of the cell
• Double layer
Plasma Membrane
The plasma membrane
separates the living cell from
its nonliving surroundings. This
membrane:
Is about 8 nm thick
Surround the cell and
controls traffic into and out
of the cell
Is selectively permeable,
allowing some substances
to cross more easily than
others.
• Cell Membrane – Double layer of lipids
(fats) that lets stuff in and out of cell
 Membrane Structure
The phospholipids and
proteins in
membranes create a
unique physical
environment,
described by the fluid
mosaic model.

The membrane is a
fluid structure with
proteins embedded
or attached to a
double layer of
phospholipids.
 Fluid Model by Singer and
Nicolson
1972 - SJ Singer and
G.L Nicolson
proposed the fluid
mosaic model which
accounted for the
amphipathic characteristic
of proteins.
 Fluid mosaic model
The
membrane is a
fluid structure
with a “mosaic”
of various
proteins
embedded in or
attached to a
double layer
(bilayer) of
phospholipids
 Structure and Function of Organelles
cell (plasma) membrane

• semi-permeable membrane which

regulates the passage of substances
into and out of the cell
• composition: protein molecules
dispersed throughout a double layer of
lipid (fluid mosaic)
Factors affecting permeability of cell
membrane to a particular substance:
• 1. molecular size of the substance
• 2. electrical charge on the atom or
molecule of the substance
• 3. solubility of the substance in water
• 4. solubility of the substance in lipid
 What determines the direction of the
movement of molecules (diffusion) across
the cell membrane?
• concentration of substances on each
side of the membrane
Active transport requires energy.
• A transport protein actively pumps a
specific solute across a membrane
against the solute’s concentration
gradient; i.e., away from where the
solute is less concentrated. Membrane
proteins use ATP as their energy
source for active transport.
Cell Wall
• Most commonly
found in plant cells
& bacteria
• Supports & protects
cells
 CELL WALL
n One of the feature of plant
cells that distinguishes plants
from animal cells.

n Found in prokaryotes, fungi,

plants and some protists.

n Situated out of plasma

membrane and not one of the
component of protoplasm.
n Built by cellulose chain- where it is arranged in
long fibril structure.

n Space between the fibril allows water, air and

soluble molecules pass through the wall without
any obstacle.
n A young plant cell first secretes relatively thin
and flexible wall called primary cell wall.
n Between primary wall of adjacent cell is the
middle lamella, a thin layer rich in sticky
polysaccharides called pectin.
n The middle lamella glues the cells together.
n The sticky middle lamella cements the
cell together.

n Plasmodesmata enables transportation

in between cells.
n When the cell matures and stop growing, it
strengthens its wall.

n Some plants cell do this simply by secreting

hardening substance into the primary wall.

n Other cell add a secondary cell wall between

the plasma membrane and the primary wall.
n The secondary wall, often deposited in
several laminated layers, has a strong and
durable matrix that affords the cell protection
and support.

n Eg: Wood consist mainly of secondary wall

n The cytoplasm of one cell is continuous with

the cytoplasm of its neighbours via
plasmodesmata, channel through the walls.
Functions of the Cell Wall
n The strong wall of the cells holds the
plant to make it turgid
n The cell wall of plants:
– Maintain the shape of the cells
– Prevent excessive up take of water, mineral
and ions
Cell Wall vs. Plasma Membrane
Cell Wall vs. Plasma Membrane
Cell Wall vs. Plasma Membrane
 Cytoskeleton
• Cell support
• Anchors
organelles
• Transports
materials
• Helps cell
move
Inside the Cell
 Nucleus

• Directs cell activities

• Separated from cytoplasm by nuclear
membrane
• Contains genetic material - DNA
 Eukaryotic Cell Organelles and
Function

• Nucleus
– Nickname: “The Control Center”
– Function: holds the DNA
– Parts:
1. Nucleolus: dark spot in the middle of the
nucleus that helps make ribosomes
 Nucleus
• Control center of cell
• Contains Chromosomes
• Humans have 46 in each cell
• Made of DNA
- control heredity
- control protein synthesis
• Surrounded by double membrane –
nuclear membrane
• Cell Membrane
 Nuclear Membrane
• Surrounds nucleus
• Made of two layers
• Openings allow
material to enter and
leave nucleus
 Nucleolus
• Contains RNA to
build proteins
 Nucleolus
• Within nucleus
• May be more than one
• Makes ribosomes
• Rich in RNA
 Cytoplasm
• Gel-like mixture
• Surrounded by cell membrane
• Contains hereditary material
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Moves materials around
in cell
• Smooth type: lacks
ribosomes
• Rough type (pictured):
ribosomes embedded in
surface
 Eukaryotic Cell Organelles and
Function
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
– Nickname: “Roads”
– Function: The internal delivery system
of the cell
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
• Transports materials through the
cytoplasm
• There are two distinct regions of ER
– Smooth ER, which lacks ribosomes
– Rough ER, which contains ribosomes
 Functions of Smooth ER
1. The Smooth ER – no ribosomes attached
– Function:
• Synthesizes fats or lipids
• Metabolizes carbohydrates
• Stores calcium
• Detoxifies poison, wastes
 Functions of Rough ER
1. The Rough ER – have ribosomes attached
» Rough appearance because it has ribosomes
– Function:
• helps Produces proteins and membranes,
that’s why it has ribosomes, which are
distributed by transport vesicles
• Transport proteins
• Helps make membranes
 Ribosomes
• Each cell contains
thousands
• Found on ribosomes &
floating throughout the
cell
 Ribosomes
• Some are free,
some are attached
to endoplasmic
reticulum.
• Smallest
organelles
• Found in all cells,
prokaryotic and
eukaryotic
 Ribosomes and Function

• Ribosomes
– Function: makes proteins
 Mitochondria and Function

• Mitochondria
– Nickname: “The Powerhouse”
– Function: Energy formation
• Breaks down food to make ATP
– ATP: is the major fuel for all cell activities
that require energy
 Mitochondria
• Produces energy through
chemical reactions –
breaking down fats &
carbohydrates
• Controls level of water and
other materials in cell
• Recycles and decomposes
proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates
 Mitochondrion
• Site of cellular respiration – food is
broken down to release energy.
 Golgi Bodies
• Protein 'packaging
plant'
• Move materials within
the cell
• Move materials out of
the cell
 Golgi Complex and Function
• Golgi Complex
– Nickname: The shippers
– Function: packages, modifies, and
transports materials to different location
inside/outside of the cell
– Appearance: stack of pancakes
 Golgi Body
• Packages cell secretions
• Makes lysosomes
– Contain digestive enzymes
for breaking down food in
food vacuoles and old, worn
out structures – ex – sperm
tail after fertilization.
 Lysosome
• Digestive 'plant' for
proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates
• Transports undigested
material to cell
membrane for removal
• Cell breaks down if
lysosome explodes
 Lysosomes and Function
• Lysosomes: circular, but bigger than
ribosomes)
– Nickname: “Clean-up Crews”
– Function: to break down food into
particles the rest of the cell can use and
to destroy old cells
Chromosomes
• In nucleus
• Made of DNA
• Contain instructions
for traits &
characteristics
 Vacuoles
• Membrane-bound sacs
for storage, digestion,
and waste removal
• Contains water
solution
• Help plants maintain
shape
Chloroplasts
 Chloroplast
• Usually found in plant
cells
• Contains green
chlorophyll
• Where photosynthesis
takes place
 Chloroplasts and Function
• Chloroplasts
– Function: traps energy from the sun to
produce food for the plant cell
– Green in color because of chlorophyll,
which is a green pigment
 Structures used for
Movement
• Cilia •Flagella
THE END