Cells Flashcards
Describe the process of cell fractionation to separate organelles of a cell
- Tissue homogenization to break open cells and release organelles
- Filter homogenate to remove debris or whole cells
- Use isotonic solution which has same water potential organelles to prevent them from bursting to shrinking from osmosis
- Keep cold to slow down enzyme activity
- Centrifuge at low speed to separate heavy organelles, eg nuclei
- Re-spin supernatant at progressively higher speeds / for mention which pellet contains desired organelles
Describe how TEM works
- beams of electrons penetrate specimen and focused using electromagnets
- denser parts absorb more elections
- so they appear darker in the electron micrograph
Role of Golgi Apparatus
- involved in secretion
- modifies polypeptide to form protein
- adds lipid/ carbohydrate groups
- packages into Golgi vesicle
- transports to cell surface
Role of Mitochondria
- Aerobic respiration
- RELEASES energy
(produces=no mark) - Produces ATP
Organelles in Eukaryotic cells only
- Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Endoplasmic Reticulum
- Lysosome
Test for starch
- add iodine
- turns blue-black from orange
Mitochondria
- sites of aerobic respiration
- produce ATP or release energy
no mark for PRODUCE energy
Cell fractionation - why is solution cold
- slow down enzyme activity
- to prevent DIGESTION (not damage) of organelles
Cell fractionation - why is solution isotonic
- same water potential as organelles
- to prevent lysis (bursting) from osmosis
Magnification
How many times larger the object appears compared to its actual size
Resolution
The minimum distance apart two objects can be for them to appear as two distinct objects
Cell fractionation - buffered
- pH does not change
- structure of organelles is not altered
- enzyme function is unaffected
Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
- no nucleus vs membrane bound nucleus
- no membrane bound organelles vs several, eg mitochondria and ER
- DNA not associated with proteins vs histones
- 70s vs 80s ribosomes
- capsule vs none
- cell made from murein vs cellulose (if present)
Nucleolus function
- synthesises ribosomal RNA
- manufactures ribosomes
Nucleus function
- contains all genetic material
- manufactures rRNA and ribosomes in nucleolus
- controls DNA replication during cell division
- controls gene expression > site of transcription
Cristae
- inner membrane of mitochondrion
- provides a large surface area for attachment of enzymes for respiration
Adaptations of chloroplast
- granal membrane has large surface area for attachment of chlorophyll and enzymes
- stroma fluid posses all enzymes to synthesis sugars
- chloroplasts contain DNA and ribosomes to quickly manufacture proteins for photosynthesis