Eukaryotic Cell Structure

(2.4+5)

Objectives
1. Describe the ultrastructure of
eukaryotic cells
2. Describe the functions of the
organelles within eukaryotic
cells.
3. Explain the importance of the
cytoskeleton.

Starter - What organelles can you remember from

GCSE? What do they do?
 Membrane Bound Organelles
Why bother?

Membranes are selectively permeable (more of this in a later

topic)

So they provide different environments (conditions inside can

differ)

This allows different metabolic reactions to occur in different

organelles - this is called compartmentalisation
 Nucleus
Contains the
genetic material
(DNA)

DNA controls which

proteins are made
within the cell and
therefore what
processes occur.
Chromatin

Histone
Mitochondrion
Site of aerobic
respiration
(release energy or
produce ATP)

There is also some

DNA
(mitochondrial
DNA) used to
produce their own
enzymes.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Rough has ribosomes and produces and
transports proteins
Smooth has no ribosomes and produces
and transports carbohydrates and lipids
Golgi Apparatus and Vesicles
Looks similar to
the Smooth
Endoplasmic
Reticulum

Modifies
proteins and
puts them into
vesicles or
lysosomes
 Lysosomes
Are specialised vesicles – they contain hydrolytic
enzymes (enzymes that break down things)

These enzymes are used to break down waste

material (including old organelles), pathogens or
even the whole cell in a process called apoptosis
 Ribosomes

Synthesise Proteins (that's all you need to know for now but
there’s more on this later!)
 Cytoskeleton

Microfilaments – (made of actin) cell movement and

contraction
Microtubules – scaffolding (for structure) and tracks
for organelle movement (including chromosomes
during division)
Intermediate fibres – mechanical strength
Plant Cells don’t have these! Centriole
Important in cell division
Cilia and Flagella
Plants only - Photosynthesis Chloroplast
Plant cells walls are made of Cellulose (
Cell Wall
Provide shape to cell and when the contents
push against the wall (the cell is turgid) Plants only!
supports the plant
 Vacuole
In plant cells the
permanent vacuole
helps maintain
turgor also store
certain substances
(controlled by the
tonoplast)

Animal cells may

also have vacuoles
but these are
temporary
Working out the function of a cell
It is possible to work out the function of a cell based on
the number and development of organelles within it.

For example – Muscle cells require large amounts of

energy and will therefore have larger numbers of
mitochondria.

You can even look within organelles.

For Example – More Cristae in a mitochondrion means

that that cell has a higher metabolism.
 Working together
All the cells work together to allow the cell to
function.

An example of this is the manufacture and

secretion of a digestive enzyme.

What organelles are involved and what do they

do?