Cellular Organelles Flashcards
What are the main types of organelles?
Nucleus, mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuole, centriole, and ER.
What is the function of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)?
Involved in protein synthesis.
What is the function of Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)?
Involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.
What are the functions of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)?
Provides mechanical support, plays a role in protein and lipid synthesis, modifies molecules, assists in intracellular transport.
What does a labeled diagram of the ER include?
Cisternae, ribosomes, cisternal space, nuclear envelope, nuclear pore.
What are ribosomes primarily composed of?
RNA (40%) and protein (60%).
What is the size of prokaryotic ribosomes?
70S.
What is the size of eukaryotic ribosomes?
80S.
What are the two unequal units of ribosomes?
Larger sub-unit (60S) and smaller sub-unit (40S).
Where are ribosomes manufactured in eukaryotic cells?
In the nucleolus.
What is the Golgi Complex also known as?
Golgi bodies or Golgi apparatus.
What is the structure of the Golgi Complex?
Canalicular system of flattened, stacked membrane-bound sacs called cisternae.
What are the two faces of the Golgi apparatus?
Cis face (receiving side) and Trans face (dispatching side).
What are the functions of the Golgi Complex?
Modifies, stores, and packages products from the ER; processes proteins and secretions; manufactures polysaccharides; forms organelles like lysosomes.
What are lysosomes?
Spherical, single-membrane bounded structures containing hydrolytic enzymes.
What is the origin of lysosomes?
They originate from the Golgi complex.
What is the function of lysosomes in cells?
Digesting foreign material and breaking down worn-out cell components.
What are the types of lysosomes?
Primary lysosomes, Secondary lysosomes, Residual bodies, Autophagosomes.
What are primary lysosomes?
Newly formed lysosomes containing inactive enzymes.
What are secondary lysosomes?
Formed after fusing with material to be digested.
What is autophagy?
Process of digesting unwanted structures within the cell.
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death where old/unwanted cells are destroyed.
What happens during autolysis?
Lysosomal membrane ruptures, releasing enzymes for breakdown.
Why are lysosomes referred to as ‘suicidal sacs’?
They release enzymes for breakdown during autolysis.
What do lysosomal storage diseases result from?
Absence or defective enzymes in lysosomes.
What is Tay-Sachs disease?
Causes mental retardation, blindness, death by age of 3.
What is Gaucher’s disease?
Causes liver/spleen enlargement, bone erosion, mental retardation in infancy.
What is Krabbe’s disease?
Causes loss of myelin, mental retardation, death by age 2.
