Cell Structure and Function

Definition of a cell:

▪ Basic structural and functional unit of living

body
▪ 100 Trillion cells in a Human being
▪ The smallest unit that displays the
characteristics of life, i.e. Reproduction,
Metabolism, Response to stimuli
 Organism

CELL

TISSUES
( group of cells having similar function)

ORGANS ( two or more primary types

of tissue)

SYSTEMS(group of organs work

together)

ORGANISM
 Properties of cell
Cells are complex and
highly organized
Consists of Nucleus and
Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm :
• contains numerous
internal structures called
organelles
• Some are membrane
bound while others do
not
 Nucleus contains a genetic
blueprint and machinery to use it

• Genes are instructions for cells to create

specific proteins
• All cells use the same types of information
– The genetic code is universal
– The machinery used for synthesis is
interchangeable
• However, for this to function properly,
information transfer must be error free
– Errors are called mutations
 Cells arise from the division of
other cells

• Daughter cells inherit the genes from the

mother cells
 Cells acquire & utilize energy
• Most cells respire
• release energy found in organic compounds
• convert organic compounds to CO2 and O2
• make ATP
 Cells can perform a variety of
chemical reactions

• Transform simple organic molecules into

complex molecules (anabolism)
• Breakdown complex molecules to release
energy (catabolism)
• Metabolism = all reactions performed by
cells
 Cells can engage in mechanical
activities

• Cells can move

• Organelles can move within the cell
• Cells can respond to stimuli
– chemotaxis - movement towards chemicals
– hormone responses
– touch responses
 General Subdivisions of a Cell
• Cell Membrane ( Plasma
membrane)
selectively permeable
boundary between the cell and
the environment

• Nucleus
regulatory center of the cell

• Cytoplasm
everything between the plasma
membrane and the nucleus
(fluid + organelles)
Basic Cell Structure

Figure 3-3: A map for the study of cell structure

Cell Membrane Structure

Figure 3-5: The cell membrane

 Structure of the cell Membrane

Phospholipid
bilayer with
proteins
embedded in,
and attached
to, the inner
(intracellular)
and outer
(extracellular)
surfaces
 Functions of cell membrane
a. Selectively permeable barrier: controls
what enters and leaves the cell
b. Phospholipids are liquid at body
temperature, so proteins float around in the
membrane
-functions as a Fluid Mosaic
c. Main responsibility: ensure the
composition of extracellular fluid is not
the same as the composition of the
intracellular fluid
 Functions of cell Membrane (contd)
d. Water-soluble
substances (salts,
nutrients) cross
membrane with
aid of protein
channels, which
are selective about
what can pass
through
 Functions of Cell Membrane (contd)
e. Lipids can pass
directly through
bilayer by
diffusion (the
random walk of
molecules)

f. Attachment site of
cytoskeleton, the
internal support
of the cell
 Functions of Cell Membrane(contd)
g. Glycocalyx = protein and
carbohydrate coat covering
the extracellular surface of the
plasma membrane
a. Allows attachment to other
cells
b. Allows the cell to interact
with the environment
c. Gives each person’s cell a
distinctive surface;
allows your body to
recognize foreign tissues
as different from your own
(i.e., blood type,
transplant rejection)
 Protoplasm

Different substances that make up the

cell collectively consists of
a. Water -70 to 80 %
b. Electrolytes (dissolved
salts,)K,Mg,Po4,So4,Hco3,Na,Cl,& Ca
c. Proteins
1.Structural & 2. Functional
d. Carbohydrates and
e. Lipids
Non – Membraneous Organelles
1.Cytoskeleton

2.Centrioles

3.Centrosomes

4.Cilia

5.Flagella

6.Ribosomes
 Cytoskeleton
Network of protein fibers
extending throughout the
fluid cytoplasm

a. Support and structure

for the cell

b. Very dynamic, always

remodeling itself

c. Critical for cells to divide

and copy themselves
 Cytoskeleton components
• Microfilaments
– Solid protein (actin)
which is assembled
at one end and
disassembled at the
other end
• Intermediate filaments
- Rope-like fibrous
proteins
– provide structural
reinforcement
– Anchor organelles
– keep nucleus in
place
• Microtubules - hollow
tubes of tubulin
(a globular protein)
– maintains cell shape
– Anchor organelles
– Movement of
organelles
– Track for motor
proteins
Cytoskeleton components
 Centrioles

• Paired cylindrical
organelles near nucleus
- Composed of nine tubes,
each with three tubules

- Involved in cellular
division

- Lie at right angles to each

other
 Cilia & Flagella
• Involved in cellular
movement
• composed of microtubules
• cilia - short, numerous,
complex

• flagella - longer, fewer, less

complex
• both arranged in a 9+2 pattern
with dynein arms projecting
outward
 Ribosomes
Ribosomes
site of protein synthesis
--assembled in the nucleolus
--exported into the cytoplasm

a. Free – unbound in the fluid

cytoplasm, produce proteins
for use in the cell
b. Bound – attached to the
endoplasmic reticulum
(ER), produce proteins for
export, or for the plasma
membrane
 Cell Organelles
Separate compartments within the cytoplasm
formed by membranes
Membraneous Organelles
1.Mitochondria
2.Golgi bodies
3.Endoplasmic Reticulum
4.Lysosomes
5.Peroxisomes
 Mitochondrion (Power House of the cell)

Structure:
Second largest
organelle with unique
genetic structure

Double-layered outer
membrane with inner
folds called cristae.
 Functions
• 1. Energy-producing • b. Requires oxygen
chemical reactions to make this
take place on cristae exchange (aerobic
a. Energy is taken from metabolism )
sugar, stored in
molecule called ATP
(adenosine
triphosphate)
Functions of Mitochondria(contd)
2. Controls level of water and other
materials in cell

3. Recycles and decomposes proteins, fats,

and carbohydrates, and forms urea
 Golgi Apparatus

Structure:
Series of flattened
sacs formed by
membranes.
Functions:
Final protein processing
prior to use by the cell

a. proteins get shuttled

from the ER to one end of the
Golgi

b. in each sac, different

modifications are made
(proteins get
individually tailored)

c. proteins get sorted

and shipped off to their
destination (like the post office
of the cell)
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
Structure:
“within the cytoplasm network”, a system
of tubes and sacs formed by membranes (an
enclosed space)

Function:
Stores, separates, and serves as cell's
transport system
 Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
b) Smooth
without bound ribosomes

-doesn’t modify proteins

-Functions in lipid
synthesis, drug
detoxification,
carbohydrate metabolism

a) Rough
Bound with Ribosomes
--modifies proteins
produced by the
ribosomes
Structure: Vesicles
small membrane-bound
structures that transport
proteins and lipids around the
cell
Function:

a. little transporters that shuttle

their contents from one
organelle to another

b. when they contact the

appropriate organelle they fuse
with its outer membrane and
dump
their contents inside

c. same for plasma membrane,

allowing the export of materials
from the cell (exocytosis)
Structure: Lysosome
Membrane-bound
vesicle that contains
digestive enzymes or
toxic chemicals.
Function:
a. Merges with vesicles
containing food
particles, invading
bacteria
b. Harsh chemicals and
enzymes degrade the
food or bacteria,
without harming rest of
cell
• TYPES OF
LYSOSOMES • FUNCTIONS:
• 1° • Digestive organ of the cell
• 2 ° - Endolysosome • Bactericidal activity
• 3° - Phagolysosome • Autolysis
• Recycling of cell
organelles –
Worn –out cell organelles ’’AUTOPHAGY’’
---transported to interior • Fertilization of ovum
of lysosomes
Enzymes --- digest these • Removal of products of
organelles – housekeeping metabolism
process
 Peroxisome

– Similar to lysosomes
– Formed from smooth
ER
– Contain – oxidases &
catalases
– degrades fatty acids
and amino acids

– Break down hydrogen

peroxide
 Molecular motors
• Helps in
movement of
various cell parts,
proteins &
organelles within
cell cytoplasm
• 100-kDa ATPases
• Two domains:
• Domain attaches with
cargo (cell part to be
moved)
• Domain attaches with
microtubules or actin
filaments – head part ---
contains ATPase---
causes hydrolysis of
ATP to provide energy
---for movement of
molecules
 TWO CATEGORIES

• 1.Microtubule –based
molecular motors

• Movement of
molecules along the
microtubules

• Kinesin

• Dynein
• Kinesin
• Some kinesins move
• Conventional kinesin
cargo – toward
• Double headed positive terminal of
molecule microtubules
• Transports its cargo –
toward ---negative
• Other --- involved in
terminal of –
cell divisions
microtubules
(mitosis & meiosis)
• One head attaches
with microtubule &
other head with cargo
• Dynein • Axonemal dynein:
• Double headed • cilia & flagella
molecule contain dynein based
• 2 types molecular motors
• Cytoplasmic dynein: • Responsible for
• Moves cargo toward beating cilia &
negative terminals of flagella
microtubules
• 2.ACTIN BASED • Myosin 5 – heads of
MOLECULAR myosin molecules walk
MOTORS on the microfilaments
• Make movement of one after another
molecules along the
actin filaments
• Myosin I – V
• 18 types
• Myosin 2 – head binds
with actin & pulls actin
by bending the neck
region
• Myosin molecules
perform various
functions like –
muscle
contraction,
• Contraction of
intestinal villi
• Cell migration
 Nucleus
1. Nuclear Envelope
(membrane)
a. Phospholipid bilayer
with nuclear pores

b. Controls what
enters/leaves the
nucleus
-- things only go in or
out by passing through
protein channels,
which are selective
c. Encloses all the
chromosomes
2. Chromatin
All the chromosomes, Nucleus
which are long strands of
the molecule DNA
Function:
DNA regulates all cell
activities, yet never
leaves the nucleus; how is
this possible?

produces RNA, short

messenger molecules
that exit through nuclear
pores

RNA carries instructions

out into the cytoplasm
 Nucleolus
Site of ribosome synthesis
a. compartment in the nucleus where ribsomes
are assembled

b. ribosomes are then moved out into

cytoplasm
through nuclear pores

c. ribosomes and RNA work together outside

the nucleus, to build all the proteins in the
cell
• controls activity of cell by regulating gene expression
• contains nucleoskeleton for mechanical support
• nucleoskeleton is composed of lamin proteins
• e.g., Emerin, Nesprin
• mutations in the lamin genes lead to defects in filament
assemly called LAMINOPATHIES
• e.g., PROGERIA -
Appearance of premature aging
 Summary
Organelle Functions
Cell Membrane Delimits the cell & regulates all
substances entering & leaving the
cell by transport mechanisms.
Cytoskeleton Support & Structure for the cell
Centrioles Involved in cellular division
Ribosomes Factories of the cell ( Protein)
Endoplasmic R Protein,Lipid synthesis,Drug
detoxification,Transport.
Mitochondria Power House of the cell
Golgi Bodies Post Office of the cell
 Cell Summary (contd )
Lysosomes Digestive system – Contain enzymes
that degrade subs.& recycled or
utilised for maintainance of the cell

Nuclear membrane The membrane contains pores through

which copies of the DNA called
mRNA communicates with the
cytoplasm of the cell
Nucleoli Sites within the nucleus where
ribosomal mRNA is synthesized &
ribosomal subunits are assembled
for transport to the cytoplasm