Cell Structure

& Function
 The Cell
• A cell is the smallest unit that
is capable of performing life
functions.
Amoeba
Proteus Plant
Stem

Bacteria Red
Blood
Cell
Nerve
Cell
 Microscopes and
Cells
• 1600’s.
–Anton van
Leeuwenhoek
first described
living cells as
seen through a
simple
microscope.
Microscopes and Cells
–Robert Hooke first used a
compound microscope to
view thinly sliced cork cells.

•
Compound scopes use
a series of lenses to
magnify in steps.
•
Hooke was the first to
 Microscopes and
• Cells
1830’s.
–Mathias Schleiden identified
the first plant cells and
concluded that all plants
are made of cells.
- Thomas Schwann made
the same conclusion about
animal cells.
 Cell Theory
1. All living things are made up of 1
or more cells.
2. Cells are the smallest working
units of all living things.
3. All cells come from pre-existing
cells through cell division.
 Number of Cells
Organisms may be:
• Unicellular-
composed of 1 cell
OR
• Multicellular-
made of many
cells
 Cells can be Eukaryotic or
Prokaryotic
• Prokaryotes :do not have a nucleus
or organelles (bacteria).

• Eukaryotes: have a nucleus and

Http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells.html
Prokaryotic Cells
• Pro = early/primitive
• Believed to be the first cells
to evolve.
• Lack a membrane bound
nucleus and organelles.
• Genetic material is free in the
cytoplasm
• Ribosomes are only other
cell structure.
• Smaller and simpler
• E.g., bacteria
 Eukaryotic
• 2 major types of eukaryotic cells-
Plant and Animal cells
Plant

Animal

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004535/eukaryotic_cells.html
 Eukaryotic
• Eu = true, karyon = nucleus
• Nucleus is present and it contains
the DNA
• Cell membrane is present
• Larger and more complex
• Have complex membrane-bound
organelles
• E.g., plants, animals, and fungi
 Organelles
• Cell structures that have a specific
function and are surrounded by a
membrane that are found in eukaryotes
only.
Cell Structures
& Functions
Cell Wall
• Found outside of the
cell membrane in
plant cells & bacteria
only
Cell Wall
• Made up of cellulose
• It consists of fine
threads or fibers
called microfibrils
• It may be thin and
some are thick
Cell Wall
Functions:
• It protects the
delicate inner parts
of cells
• It gives shape to
the cell (rigid)
• It freely allows the
passage of water
and other chemical
into and out of the
cell
Cell Wall
Functions:
• Plasmodesmata -
facilitates large
molecules, cellular
communication, and
molecular
translocation
• Middle lamella – cell
adhesion, and
support and stability
Cell or Plasma Membrane
or Plasmalemma
• Outer membrane of
cells that controls
movement of
substances in and out of
the cell
• Double layer (bi-layer)
• In plants and bacteria,
this is within the cell
wall.
 Cell or Plasma Membrane
or Plasmalemma
• Made up of proteins and lipids
• Fluid mosaic model (Singer and Nicholson,
1972)
 Cell or Plasma Membrane
or Plasmalemma
• According to the fluid mosaic model,
• (i) The plasma membrane is composed of a
lipid bilayer of phospholipid molecules into
which a variety of globular proteins are
embedded.
• (ii) Each phospholipid molecule has two
ends, an outer head hydrophilic i.e. water
attracting, and the inner tail pointing
centrally hydrophobic, i.e. water repelling
 Cell or Plasma Membrane
or Plasmalemma
• (iii) The protein molecules are arranged in
two different ways:
• (a) Peripheral proteins or extrinsic proteins:
these proteins are present on the outer and
inner surfaces of the lipid bilayer.
• (b) Integral proteins or intrinsic proteins:
These proteins penetrate the lipid bilayer
partially or wholly.
 Cell or Plasma Membrane
or Plasmalemma
Function:
• It encloses the cell contents
• It provides shape
• It allows transport of certain substances into
and out of the cell but not all substances so
much it is termed as “selectively permeable”
 Cytoplasm
• Gel-like mixture inside cells
• Surrounded by cell membrane
• Contains cell structure that carry out
specific jobs ex. Mitochondrion, nucleus
• Provides a medium for chemical reactions
to take place
Organelles
 Mitochondria
• “powerhouse”
• Energy releasers
• Membrane-bound
organelles that are
the site of cellular
respiration (use
glucose to produce
cell energy, ATP)
 Mitochondria
• In cytoplasm, glucose enters cells
(containing 6 atoms of carbon) 
Broken into two Pyruvic acid
molecules (containing 3 atoms of
carbon)  In mitochondria Acetyl-
Co-A is oxidized into CO2, H2O and
ATP
Plastids
 Chloroplast
• Usually found in plant
cells
• Contains green
pigment chlorophyll
• Where
photosynthesis takes
place (energy
trappers)
• Produces plant food
(sugars) and
oxygen gas
 Similarities of mitochondria &
chloroplast
• They have their own DNA (genetic material)
& RNA (for protein synthesis)
• They can self-duplicate
Endoplasmic Reticulum

• It provides an internal
framework, compartment, and
reaction surfaces, and
transports enzymes and other
material throughout the cell
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Network of continuous
sacs, studded with
ribosomes.
• Internal delivery
system of the cell.
• Manufactures, pro-
cesses, and transports
proteins for export
from cell.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Similar in
appearance to
rough ER, but
without the
ribosomes.
• Produces steroids, and stores
carbohydrates
Golgi Apparatus
• Protein 'packaging plant‘
• Modifies proteins and
lipids made by the
ER and prepares
them for export
from the cell.
• Encloses digestive
enzymes into
membranes to form
lysosomes (transport
pods).
 Ribosomes
• Protein synthesis
• Found on
endoplasmic
reticulum & floating
throughout the cell
cytoplasm
Lysosome
• Digestive 'plant' for
proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates
• Digestive enzymes
break down cellular
waste and debris
• Transports undigested
material to cell
membrane for removal
• Cell breaks down if
lysosome explodes
Plant Vacuole
• Plants have large
central vacuoles that
store water and
nutrients needed by
the cell.
• Help support the
shape of the cell.
• Waste disposal
• Homeostasis
• Degradation
 Cilia and Flagella
• External
appendages from
the cell membrane
Cilia that aid in
locomotion
(movement) of the
Flagella cell.
• Cilia also help to
move substance
past the membrane.
Centrioles
• Found only in animal
cells.
• Self-replicating
• Made of bundles of
microtubules.
• Help in organizing cell
division.
Cytoskeleton
• The cell’s skeleton
• Made of
microtubules and
filaments
• It maintains
structures within
the cell
Nucleus
• “Control center”
• Directs cell activities
• Contains the genetic
material (DNA)
• Separated from
cytoplasm by nuclear
membrane (or nuclear
envelope).
 Nuclear Membrane
• Surrounds nucleus,
separates DNA from
cytoplasm
• Made of two layers
• Openings called
pores allow some
materials to enter and
leave nucleus
Chromatin
• In nucleus
• Genetic material
(DNA) of cell in its
non-dividing state.
• Contain instructions
for traits &
characteristics
 Nucleolus
• Dark-staining
structure in the
nucleus
• Makes ribosomes
that make proteins
Peroxisome
• Peroxisomes in seeds responsible for the
conversion of stored fatty acids to
carbohydrates, critical to providing
energy and raw materials for the growth
of germinating plants.
Glyoxysomes
• they contain
enzymes of fatty
acid metabolism
involved in the
conversion of
lipids to
carbohydrates
during
germination
Microtubules
• Thin, hallow, tube-
like structures that
are commonly found
inside the plasma
membrane
• They are also found
in the spindle fiber
and cell plates
• They regulate the
addition of cellulose
to the cell wall
Microfilaments
• Long, protein filaments arranged
in bundles.
• They play an important role in
cyclosis
• With microtubules, they form a
flexible framework within the
cytoplasm