Cells And Organelles Flashcards
What is the average size of a plant/animal cell ?
Between 10-100 micrometers, when viewed through a Light Microscope.
Which is bigger plant cell or bacteria ?
Plant cell
What do eukaryotic cells lack ?
Cell wall
What is an example of a prokaryotic cell ?
Bacteria
What do prokaryotic cells lack ?
Nucleus, membrane bound organelles (e.g. mitochondria)
How much bigger is a eukaryotic cell compared to a prokaryotic cell ?
10 times bigger and more complex
What structures can be found in a eukaryotic cell ?
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Ribosomes
Lysosomes
Golgi Apparatus
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Nucleus (with a nucleolus and chromatin)
Vacuoles
Function of the nucleus
DNA is packaged in the nucleus
DNA is transcribed to produce mRNA (via transcription)
Nucleus is enclosed by the double membrane, nuclear envelope.
mRNA passes from nucleus to cytoplasm via the nuclear pores.
mRNA is decoded and proteins are made (via translation) on the ribosomes
Chromatin
DNA is packaged with proteins called histones, forming a complex called chromatin.
2 types of chromatin
Euchromatin
Heterochromatin
Most active form of chromatin
Euchromatin
Function of nucleolus
Assembles newly made ribosomes
Function of ribosomes
Protein making factories of the cell.
Decode mRNA and convert it into proteins in translation.
Note: many ribosomes remain ‘free’ during translation.
Function of endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum forms a network of membrane tubules continuous with the nuclear membrane.
It is the protein manufacturing plant of the cell.
Note : the ‘free’ ribosomes translate proteins destined for the cytosol, nucleus and mitochondria
Function of the Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus is a series of flattened membrane proteins.
It is known as the shipping/ sorting centre of the cell.
It sorts and packages ‘cargo‘ into distinct vesicles for export to other organelles.
Function of the lysosomes
Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles containing a variety of hydrolases that digest, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid and carbohydrates.
Function of the vesicles
They transport materials between membrane compartments.
Function of the mitcohondria
The power station of the cell.
They have an outer membrane and an inner membrane.
They contain their own DNA and so replicate by dividing into 2.
Where does protein synthesis start ?
The cytosol
Synthesis of proteins
Lipids and proteins are synthesised in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Lipids are synthesised in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and are inserted into its membrane.
The synthesis of all proteins begins in the cytosol.
The synthesis of cytosolic ribosomes is completed here and these proteins remain in the cytosol.
Transmembrane proteins carry a signal sequence which halts translation and directs the ribosomes synthesising the protein to dock with ER, forming RER.
Translation continues after docking and the protein is inserted into the membrane of the ER.
Movement of proteins between membranes
Once the proteins are in the ER, they are transported by vesicles that bud off the ER and fuse with the Golgi apparatus.
As the proteins move through the Golgi apparatus, they undergo post-translational modifications.
Vesicles that leave the Golgi apparatus, take proteins to the plasma membrane and lysosomes.
Vesicles move along microtubules to other membranes and fuse with them within the cell.
The secretory pathway
Secreted proteins are translated in ribosomes on the ER, and enter its lumen.
These proteins move through the Golgi apparatus and ate then packaged into secretory vesicles.
These vesicles move to and fuse with the plasma membrane, releasing proteins out of the cell.
Many secreted proteins are synthesised into inactive precursors and require proteolytic cleavage to produce active proteins.
How do vesicles move ?
The transport vesicles are pulled by various motor proteins (e.g. kinesin and dynein ), along the microtubules.
What is endocytosis ?
Involves engulfing extracellular material
3 types of endocytosis
Phagocytosis (large particles)
Pinocytosis (small molecules)
Receptor mediated endocytosis
Phagocytosis
Involves engulfing and destroying pathogens.
- Binding of pathogen to surface receptors
- The plasma membrane begins engulfing the pathogen
- This forms a phagosome
- The phagosome fuses with the lysosome
- Forming a phagolysosome
- Enzymes in lysosomes destroy bacteria
- Lysosome expels the leftovers out into the extracellular face
Pinocytosis
- Solutes bind to the cell membrane
- Cell Membrane invaginates (folds inwards)
- This forms a vesicle (PINOSOME)
- Motor proteins carry the vesicle using ATP deeper into the cytosol
- The vesicle releases extracellular fluid and solutes into the cytosol
Receptor-mediated endocytosis (Clathrin proteins)
Note : the surface of the cell membrane have pits which are clathrin coated
- Ligand binds to receptor
- The edges of the pit start coming together
- The clathrin proteins ‘link up’
- The vesicle pinches off and the clathrin proteins detach and move back to the cell membrane
- The vesicle merges with an organelle called an endosome
- The endosome uses ATP to generate a low pH which separates the ligand from the receptor
- The vesicle splits into 2, one with all the ligands and one with the receptors
Note :
Vesicle 1 releases the receptors back to the surface of the cell membrane
Vesicle 2 goes to the lysosome for digestion