GENERAL BIOLOGY I –BIO 101.

Introduction to CELL BIOLOGY

Ms. Nasir., Z.J.

LECTURE OUTCOME
By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Describe the cell theory

• Describe cell structures with their specific functions
• Describe with the aid of a diagram, the different types of cells and their
modifications
• Explain the evolution of cells
CELL SIZE
Introduction
A cell is a chemical system that is able to maintain its structure and reproduce.

Cell Theory:
• Basic unit of life; all chemical reactions that makes us alive happens in the cell
• All cells arrives from existing cells
• Is a building block for all living organisms:
• Unicellular
• Multicellular:
• Each type of cell with a specific function
• Immune cells fight against pathogens

Cell components:
• Membrane – boundary
• Cytoplasm – contains organelles
• Nucleus – contains DNA
CELL TYPES
Cells types:
• Prokaryotic cells: bacteria
• Do not have nucleus,
however, have DNA
• 10x smaller
• Eukaryotic cells:
• Animal cells
• Plant cells

This figure shows the generalized structure of a prokaryotic cell.

PROKARYOTIC CELLS
• Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms of the domains
Bacteria and Archaea.
• All prokaryotes have plasma membranes, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, and DNA that is not membrane-bound.
• Most have peptidoglycan cell walls, and many have
polysaccharide capsules. Prokaryotic cells range in
diameter from 0.1 to 5.0 μm.
• As a cell increases in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio
decreases. If the cell grows too large, the plasma membrane
will not have sufficient surface area to support the rate of
diffusion required for the increased volume
• few or no membrane enclosed spaces within the cytoplasm
• no nucleus - DNA is in a region called the nucleoid
• DNA is circular and naked (has no protein associated with
it)
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Like a prokaryotic cell, a eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and
ribosomes, but a eukaryotic cell is typically larger than a prokaryotic cell, has a
true nucleus (meaning a membrane surrounds its DNA), and has other membrane-
bound organelles that allow for compartmentalizing functions.
• The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins. The
nucleus’s nucleolus is the site of ribosome assembly. We find ribosomes either in
the cytoplasm or attached to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane or
endoplasmic reticulum that perform the protein synthesis.
• Mitochondria participate in cellular respiration. They are responsible for the
majority of ATP produced in the cell. Peroxisomes hydrolyze fatty acids, amino
acids, and some toxins. Vesicles and vacuoles are storage and transport
compartments. In plant cells, vacuoles also help break down macromolecules.
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Animal cells also have a centrosome and lysosomes. The centrosome has two
bodies perpendicular to each other, the centrioles, and has an unknown purpose in
cell division. Lysosomes are the digestive organelles of animal cells.
• Plant cells and plant-like cells each have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a central
vacuole. The plant cell wall, whose primary component is cellulose, protects the
cell, provides structural support, and gives the cell shape. Photosynthesis takes
place in chloroplasts. The central vacuole can expand without having to produce
more cytoplasm.
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Components:
1. Plasma Membrane
- And a Cell wall in plants, yeast
2. Nucleus
3. Cytoplasm
• Organelles:
• Mitochondria
• Ribosomes
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus
• Lysosomes
• Peroxisomes
• Cytoskeleton
• Vacuoles (plants)
• Chloroplast (plants)
This figure shows (a) a typical animal cell and (b) a typical plant cell.
CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
1. PLASMA MEMBRANE
Components:
• Lipids
• Double layer of phospholipids
• and cholesterol & other lipids
• Proteins
• Carbohydrates
• Attached to either lipids or
proteins

• Function
• Allows selective passage in
& out the cell
The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded
proteins. There are other components, such as cholesterol and
carbohydrates, which can be found in the membrane in addition to
phospholipids and protein.
Membrane enclosed spaces allow cell functions to be compartmentalized and
isolated from other functions. Prokaryotes lack membrane enclosed spaces in their
cytoplasm.

• Some prokaryotes are

photosynthetic.

The biochemical
machinery for trapping
light energy is contained
within a highly folded
plasma membrane.
2. THE NUCLEUS
Structure:
• Nuclear membrane – envelope
• Nuclear pores – allows passage in & out
• Surrounded by rough endoplasmic
reticulum
• Nucleoplasm – inside the nucleus
• Contains:
• the nucleolus – where rRNA is made
• DNA – under the form of chromatin

The outermost boundary of the nucleus is the nuclear envelope.

Notice that the nuclear envelope consists of two phospholipid
bilayers (membranes)—an outer membrane and an inner
membrane—in contrast to the plasma membrane, which consists
of only one phospholipid bilayer.
(credit: modification of work by NIGMS, NIH)
Chromosome - “colored body”
consists of both DNA and protein - seen as chromosomes when
highly condensed in preparation for cell division

At other times the DNA and

protein are threadlike and
called .
The most common proteins
are histones. DNA is coiled
around histones in a regular
pattern that produces
structures called
nucleosomes.
3. ENDOPLASMIC RECTICULUM
ER structure: made of membranes as
boundary
• Two types:
• Rough ER (RER) – has ribosomes
attached to their surfaces on the
membrane
• Made of flatten vesicle and attached to
the nuclear envelope
• Role in modifying proteins
• Smooth ER (SER) – shaped as
tubules
• Role in storage of calcium ions (Ca+),
synthesize lipids, steroid hormones,
The endomembrane system works to modify, package, and
carbohydrates
transport lipids and proteins. It also covers a large surface area
for enzymatic action.
(credit: modification of work by Magnus Manske)
4. GOLGI APARATUS
Structure:
• Flatten big vesicles or sacs
• Have two faces
• Trans face – Receiving face
towards the ER and nucleus
• Cis face – Releasing face
towards the cell plasma
membrane

The Golgi apparatus in this transmission electron micrograph of

Function: a white blood cell is visible as a stack of semicircular flattened
• Modifies proteins, lipids rings in the lower portion of this image. Several vesicles can be
seen near the Golgi apparatus.
(credit: modification of work by Louisa Howard; scale-bar
data from Matt Russell)
5. LYSOSOME
• The Golgi Apparatus also forms
lysosomes
• Lysosomes - vesicles filled with digestive
enzymes - used for intracellular digestion
Structures:
• membranous vesicle
• Containing enzymes and low pH
• Role as “garbage disposal” by removing
any broken organelles, pathogens etc.
• In Macrophages (a type of white blood A macrophage has phagocytized a potentially pathogenic
cells) bacterium into a vesicle, which then fuses with a lysosome
within the cell so that the pathogen can be destroyed. Other
organelles are present in the cell, but for simplicity, are not
shown.
THE ENDOMEMBRANE SYSTEM
A system of structures of different shapes made of
membranes;

Function:
Role in making and modifying proteins and
lipids;

It includes:
Plasma membrane, nuclear envelope, RER, SER,
Golgi apparatus, lysosomes
The endomembrane system works to modify, package, and
transport lipids and proteins.
(credit: modification of work by Magnus Manske)
6. RIBOSOMES
Structure:
• Organelles not made of membranes
• Made of rRNA and proteins
• Attached to RER or free in the cytoplasm
• Roundly shape

Function:
• Function in synthesizing proteins
7. MITOCHONDRIA
“powerhouse” or “energy factories” 
function in making ATP (chemical energy) from
food
Structure: oval-shaped vesicles, made of two
membranes
• Outer membrane
• inner membrane – with folds called cristae
• Intermembrane space and the matrix
Function:
• The site of oxygen consumption within cells
• Have their own DNA that is similar to prokaryotic
DNA
• Have their own ribosomes that are
similar in construction to prokaryotic
ribosomes
• Synthesize many, but not all, of their
own proteins • This transmission electron micrograph shows a mitochondrion as
viewed with an electron microscope. Notice the inner and outer
• Mitochondria replicate by binary fission - membranes, the cristae, and the mitochondrial matrix. (credit:
similar to prokaryotic cell division modification of work by Matthew Britton; scale-bar data from
Matt Russell)
8. CHLOROPLASTS
Structure:
Vesicle with two membranes:
• inner and outer
• Stroma – inside the chloroplast
• Thylakoids – flatten vesicles inside the
stroma
• Organized in stacks called grana
• Made of
• membrane boundary – contains
green pigments or chlorophylls
• lumen
Function:
• Role in photosynthesis – transforming solar This simplified diagram of a chloroplast shows the outer
energy into food (chemical energy) membrane, inner membrane, thylakoids, grana, and
stroma.
CHLOROPLASTS
have their own DNA, similar to prokaryotic DNA
Can synthesize many of their own proteins using prokaryote-like
ribosomes
Synthesize many, but not all, of their own proteins
Replicate through division similar to prokaryotic cell division

Chloroplasts can take on other functions

synthesize and store starch in roots and tubers
have pigments and give fruits ripened color
CELL PROTECTION
Protection against tension and compression

• Extracellular matrix (ECM) – animals

• Made of protein collagen and
glycoproteins (sugar + protein)
• The extracellular matrix consists of a
network of substances secreted by cells.

• Cell wall – plant cells

• Made of carbohydrates like pectin
 Plants have cell walls made of cellulose.
During cell division plant cells build dividing walls between the two new cells called the cell
plate.
An adhesive layer - the middle lamella - is laid down between the new cell walls

Cell walls can be thickened through the addition of materials to the inside of the primary cell wall.
CYTOSKELETON
• It is composed of A SCAFFOLDING OF proteins
assembled into 3 different types:
• Microtubules – made of tubulin proteins
• helps with:
• transporting vesicles/organelles within the cell,
• mitotic spindle (in cell division),
• movement of cells (see flagellum, cilia)
• Intermediate filaments – helps with the
shape of the cells
• Example: Keratin
• Microfilaments – made of actin proteins
• helps with:
• movement of cells (see pseudopods),
• contraction in the muscle cells, Microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules
• Cleavage furrow during Cell division compose a cell’s cytoskeleton.
 Plant Cells have, in addition to the collection of organelles found
in other groups, a central vacuole for storage and for producing
pressure inside the the cell.

The central vacuole is usually

filled with water and solutes.
A high solute concentration
draws water into the vacuole,
expanding the vacuole and the
cell.
Because plant cells are
enclosed by a cell wall, the
expansion of the vacuole can
exert pressure on the cell
without causing the cell to
burst.
CILIA AND FLAGELLUM
• More on this visit YouTube video:
Cilia and flagella
• Cilia – many in number, size: short,
hair-like
• Helps in movement of cells or
substances (mucus)
• Flagellum – 1 or 2 on cell surface;
very long
• Helps in movement of cells
Bacteria often have flagella with a
single protein core (flagellin) that they
can use to move in a rotary corkscrew
like fashion The rotary motor of prokaryotic flagella is powered by proton
flow through the cell membrane.
Rotating structures are rare in nature.
ENDOSYMBIOSIS & EVOLUTION
• Symbiosis = living together
• Mitochondria and chloroplasts
are organelles that in the past
were independent organisms
(i.e. bacteria) living outside
the cells.
• Proofs: 1 circular DNA,
ribosomes, binary division
• For more details, please watch
this YouTube video:
Endosymbiosis