Cell City Project

Animal Cell Compared To a Car

Cole Brownsberger Luke Patterson

1. Cell Membrane and Exterior of the Car

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The structure of a cell membrane has a phospholipid bilayer with proteins, carbohydrates, and other lipids embedded. The phospholipid bilayer consists of two layers that face each. Each layer has an outside polar, hydrophilic, glycerol head, that can come into contact with water, whereas the inside of the layer has a fatty acid tail that cannot come into contact with water because it is hydrophobic and non-polar. Cholesterol is found in between closely related phospholipids. Integral proteins are embedded into the membrane and they stick out both sides and Peripheral proteins are only embedded into one side of the cell membrane. Glycoproteins are carbohydrates attached to membrane proteins or lipids and can be found on the extracellular surface only. The extracellular matrix is referred to as the face of the cell or the extracellular surface. It is composed of all the cell membrane parts and is also different for each type of cell. The structure of a cell membrane is composed of a lot of organelles, but what is the function of these parts? Well, the phospholipid bilayer provides the overall support, shape, and protection for the cell. The cholesterol found in between the phospholipids helps increase stability by preventing the phospholipids from being too fluid. The integral proteins act as regulatory channels for membrane transport, and the peripheral proteins provide support because they attach to the cytoskeleton of the cell. The peripheral proteins can also act as enzymes and also receptor sites for channels. The glycolipids are part of the cell to cell adhesion

Page 2 (tissue integrity), and cell to cell recognition and communication. The extracellular matrix helps identify the cell and it also interacts with neighboring cells to communicate. The cell membrane is an important part of the cell because it provides the shape and protection for the cell, as well as give it support. That is why the exterior of a car is just like the cell membrane of a cell. The exterior of a car gives a car its shape and support, and it also protects everything inside it. The integral proteins of the exterior of a car would be the doors, windows, and grille. Each car has a different type of exterior and the outside frame of a car helps identify what kind it is just like the extracellular matrix does a cell. The peripheral proteins attach to the axis of a car just like they attach to the cytoskeleton of a cell. The phospholipid bilayer of a car is the actual exterior itself. The outside layer is hydrophilic and can come into contact with water like the outside layer of a phospholipid in a cell. The cell membrane is one of the most important parts of a cell, and the exterior of a car is very important to the car itself.

2. Nucleus and Driver

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The Nucleus is generally the large, central part of the cell. There is only one nucleus in a cell. The nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear envelope and membrane. It is also composed of nuclear sap found in the nucleoplasm, and has a nuclear matrix that provides the support to the nucleus. Chromatin is found inside the nucleus and the chromatin contains DNA. The nucleolus is also found inside the nucleus and so is RNA. The Nucleus is the central control room that protects the genetic material. The DNA found in chromatin is too large to leave the nucleus, so the nucleus has to protect it. The nucleus uses the DNA as a blueprint on how to build and operate all the cell parts. Without it, the cell membrane would not be able to function properly. The importance of the nucleus of the cell is just like the driver of a car. The drivers brain is just like a cells DNA because the driver contains all of the knowledge of how to control and operate the car, and without him, the car would not be able to function properly. The driver is the central control room of a car, and there can only be one driver just like there can only be one nucleus in a cell.

3. Nucleolus and the Drivers Head

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The nucleolus is the area containing RNA and proteins. It is not membrane bound so it is really just a more dense part of the nucleus. It does not take up the whole part of a nucleus but it does take up about a fourth of space. The nucleolus function is to produce ribosomes. The ribosomes function is to produce proteins so that whole process starts in the nucleolus. Using rRNA, the nucleolus builds these ribosomes and then ships them out of the nucleus. The nucleolus of a car would be the head of the driver. The driver sees and hears his surroundings and has to make decisions based on his senses. He has to create thoughts and send them down to his muscles so they can make reactions. An important part of the car is the driver because he operates and controls it. The nucleolus is important in a nucleus, just like the drivers head is important to the driver and the car.

4. Chromatin and a Drivers Brain

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The chromatin of cell is found within the nucleus. Chromatin contains DNA that is bound around histones and wrapped around protein. It is too big to leave the nucleus, and it is the nucleuss job to protect it. If all the DNA, found in the nucleus, was put together into one strand, that strand would be almost six feet long. As you can tell, there is a lot of DNA in chromatin. Chromatins function in a cell is to provide genetic information on how to build and operate all cell parts. One strand of DNA in chromatin has 46 unique parts that hold the information on how operate the cell parts. Without chromatin in the nucleus, the cell would not be able to function. The brain of a driver is very similar to chromatin. The brain of a driver processes and reacts to what the five senses of our body tell us. The brain can tell our body how to operate all of our parts, just like the DNA in chromatin. The brain is also too big to leave the body, and chromatin is too big to leave the nucleus.

5. Cytoplasm and the Interior of the Car

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The cytoplasm is the region within the cell between the cell membrane and nuclear membrane. The endoplasm is anything within the cytoplasm and the ectoplasm is anything outside if the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm contains the organelles and parts within the cell. Within the cytoplasm is cytosol, a clear liquid gel made up of water, ions, salts, organic compounds, and pigments. The function of the cytoplasm is to keep fluidity in the cell. Without the cytoplasm, the organelles and parts would have a tough time staying in place because they would be suspended in air. The cytoplasm is an area where the organelles and parts can move around or stay in place. The interior of a car and the cytoplasm of a cell are alike in many ways. The interior of a car contains the parts within a car. The cytosol of a car would just be air. Air is a clear substance that contains oxygen, minerals, and ions.

6. Mitochondria and Pistons of an Engine

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The Mitochondria may have been its own cell at one point because of its structure. It has an outer membrane that surrounds the organelle. An inner membrane called the cristae is found inside the out membrane. The space between the outer membrane and the inner membrane is known as the inter-membrane space. The mitochondria matrix is found within the inner membrane, and also inside the inner membrane is DNA. The mitochondrias DNA actually came from the mothers ovum, making the mitochondria have its own DNA. The function of the mitochondria is cellular respiration, which produces ATP. ATP is the energy for the cell. The mitochondria are also part of regulating a cells metabolism. Through the process of producing ATP, they can speed up metabolism or if production is low, slow it down. For the cell to have any energy, mitochondria will have to produce it. The pistons of an engine in a car are very similar to the mitochondria in a cell. The pistons produces energy for the car just like the mitochondria produces energy for the cell. An engine uses gasoline in the combustion chamber to move the pistons up and down which in return turns the axel of the car. When the pistons move up and down, the friction produces a lot of heat and energy that the car parts can also use. Without the pistons of an engine, a car would not be functional, like a cell without its mitochondria.

7. Golgi Complex and the Carburetor

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The Golgi complex, also known as the Golgi apparatus, is a very complicated organelle. It is a series of folded membranes found on the inside of a cell, and it looks like a stack of pancakes. The actual folded parts of the membrane are called the cisternae. The Golgi complex has three faces. The receiving part is called the cis, the enzymatic work area is called the medial, and the shipping dock is called the trans. Proteins first go to the cis, then they go through the cisternae until they enter the medial, and then they go out of the Golgi complex through the trans. The function of the Golgi complex is to modify, sort, store, and ship proteins and lipids. The Golgi apparatus can receive proteins from the Rough ER, modify it, and then ship them to other places in the cell like the vacuoles. The Golgi apparatus can also receive food outside the cell, process it, and then send it to the smooth ER. The carburetor in a car is a device that blends air and fuel so the internal combustion engine can use it. The carburetor receives fuel from the fuel vapor hose, and it also receives air from outside the car through the grille. The carburetor has to measure the airflow of the engine, deliver the correct amount of fuel to keep the fuel/air mixture in the proper range so the combustion chamber can safely use it (adjusting for factors such as temperature), and finally it has to mix the air and fuel evenly. The carburetor has to do all of this very fast because the combustion chamber uses up this mix quickly. The throttle valve is directly related to the amount of airflow and fuel mix there is. If the driver increases the throttle, more air/fuel mix

Page 9 will be needed to supply the engine with. The Golgi apparatus does this in a cell by packaging, and distributing the materials the cell needs.

8. Centriole and the Fuel Vapor Hose

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A centriole is a cylinder-like cell structure that has a hollow middle. The walls of the centriole are composed of nine triplets of microtubules. This means that there are nine sets groups on the outside of the centriole with each group having three microtubules. Microtubules are proteins of the cytoskeleton. The function of the centriole is to help organize mitotic spindle to move chromosomes. During mitosis, chromosomes are separated into two cells. Mitotic spindle occurs when chromosomes are divided and placed into the two new cells. To help with this separation, centrioles are used. Using the centrioles for support, chromosomes are able to be distributed. The fuel vapor hose in a car is like the centriole in a variety of ways. They are both hollow, allow things to pass through them fairly easily. The walls of both the fuel vapor hose and the walls of a centriole, are made to be strong and sturdy. The fuel vapor hose distributes fuel into the carburetor. Just like the centriole distributes chromosomes into the cells, the fuel vapor hose distributes fuel into the carburetor.

9. Microtubules and Bumpers/ Fenders

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Microtubules are the biggest protein filament out of the three types. They are part of the cytoskeleton in the cell. Microtubules are thick, hollow tubes. The outside of these tubes wrap around each other, but they still leave a hollow opening. The function of the microtubules is to help with cell shape and support, cell mobility, organelle movement and chromosome movement. As part of the cytoskeleton, microtubules have a big part of cell shape and support. The wrapped around walls of the microtubules give the part strong walls. As part of the chromosome movement, microtubules can be found in centrioles. When they are in the centrioles, the microtubules are in sets of three and there are nine of those sets. In all, there are 27 microtubules in a centriole and they help support and shape that part. Fenders and bumpers of a car are very much alike to the microtubules of a cell. The bumpers of a car are the front and rear end parts that are supposed to absorb the impact of head on or rear end collisions. The fenders of a car are the side parts that curve over the wheel. These parts are like the microtubules of a cell because they help the cell mobility of car by being aerodynamic. They also help the car with structure and support by absorbing impact in collisions. By protecting the other parts of a car, these parts also help out with the organelle movement. If the engine is not damaged in a wreck, the car can still be used, and its parts can still work fine.

10. Vacuole and Fuel Tank

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In an animal cell, vacuoles are smaller, more numerous, than the typical one large vacuole in the plant cell. In aquatic organisms, some vacuoles can be contractile and they pump out excess fluid from the cell. The vacuoles can have lysosome attached. The purpose of this would be to easily transfer goods from one part to the other. The function of a vacuole is to store things like water, salts, enzymes, food, and wastes; to protect the cell by isolating chemicals and wastes; and to support the growth. Lysosomes can give wastes to the vacuoles. The wastes that are harmful to the cell can also be temporarily stored in the vacuoles as sort of a safe haven. With numerous vacuoles in a cell, food and energy is readily available for the cell to use especially when it is growing and going through the process of mitosis. The fuel tank in a car is very similar to the vacuole of a cell. The fuel tank, more commonly referred to as the gas tank, provides fuel for the engine. Fuel pumps pump fuel into the gas tank where the fuel can be stored for use. Special valves and protection are needed for the fuel tanks because the fuel going into them is highly flammable. When the engine is in need of fuel, fuel from the gas tank is distributed between a hose that is connected from the tank to the engine. Most fuel tanks are stored in front of the rear axle to keep them from being damaged. If there is no fuel in the fuel tank, then the engine would not run. In a cell, if the vacuoles have no stored energy, then the cell is going to have some problems. This could go the same way though if the gas tank and the vacuole also have too many things stored in them.

11. Lysosome and Exhaust Lysosomes are microbodies produced by the Golgi complex. The membrane of a

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lysosome is filled with catabolic enzymes. They can be found in white blood cells. Lysosomes can be referred to as your auto-immune disease. The interior of a lysosome is acidic, which helps break down wastes and materials harmful to a cell. The functions of a lysosome are one, to digest organic macromolecules, two, to destroy invading bacteria and viruses, and three, recycle the wastes of the cell. Basically the lysosomes are the clean-up crew of a cell. Through apoptosis, a cell will be programmed to die if lysosomes cannot work fast enough to get rid of the excess materials in a cell. One of the most important functions of the lysosome is to recycle the wastes of the cell. The exhaust does exactly that but in a car. The exhaust of a car takes burnt gasses away from the combustion chamber and the engine, and projects it away from the car using the exhaust pipe. The burnt gasses are cooled down before they leave the engine system. This is why we can see the gasses coming out of the tail pipe of the exhaust of a car. The gas coming out can be lethal, and if left in the engine, can cause some serious damage. The lysosomes of a cell are very important for sending away harmful materials, and so is the exhaust pipe of a cell.

12. Peroxisome and Catalytic Converter

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Peroxisomes in a cell are single membrane bound and have enzymes inside of them. The Peroxisome membrane contains metabolic enzymes that go through a lot of chemical reactions. Peroxisome microbodies can be found abundant in the liver of an organism. Peroxisome microbodies deal with catabolism, metabolism, and detoxification. The catabolism of fatty acids is for energy for the cell. The metabolism of lipids also provides some energy. The detoxification is found in liver cells. Catabolase and hydrogen peroxide are used for the detox in liver cells to get rid of harmful wastes in the body. The catabolic converter in a car works like the peroxisome microbodies in a cell. A catabolic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic chemicals in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine into substances that are less harmful for the environment. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which the most harmful byproducts of the combustion in the engine are converted into less toxic substances by means of catalyzed chemical reactions. Although materials harmful to the environment still come out of this, the catabolic converter greatly reduces the amount of harmful substances. Peroxisomes do just that in cells.

13. Microfilament and Transmission

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Microfilaments, also known as actin filaments, are the smallest of the protein-filament types. Microfilaments are part of the cytoskeleton organelle. They are composed of the protein actin. The shape of the microfilaments is actually composed of two thin, solid, intertwined filaments. This gives the structure more support, and makes the sides denser. The function of microfilaments is to help with cell shape and support, cell division, cell mobility, and muscle contraction. As part of the cytoskeleton of a cell, microfilaments main function is the cell shape and support. During cell division, microfilaments help separate two cells from the existing one. In muscle contraction, microfilaments are either relaxed, or flexed. The muscle of a car is its transmission. The transmission gears of a car control the amount of power used in an engine. The transmission of a car controls the direction, and the flow of fuel in the combustion chamber. The gears represent how much torque is added to the engine. Microfilaments do the same thing in a cell. Tissue in the muscle is full of microfilaments and they help with the power of the muscle just like the transmission of a car helps with the power of the engine.

14. Ribosome and Grille

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Ribosomes are numerous, small, cellular structures that are not organelles. They are also not membrane bound. They are built in the nucleolus and are made of rRNA and proteins. Ribosomes are composed of two subunits, either large or small. Ribosomes are found free in cytosol, meaning they are just floating around, or they are attached to an endoplasmic reticulum. Ribosomes are a big part in protein synthesis. They free build proteins for use within the cell. The attached proteins are then exported and sent out of the cell. Proteins play a big role in the cell and they have many uses. The production of the ribosomes is critical for the use of proteins. The grille of a car plays a significant role. It is a major cooling component for the cars engine. It also protects the radiator and the engine. The grille of a car also intakes air, an important substance for the engine and cooling system. The ribosomes of a cell produce proteins that are vital to the cell. Well air is also vital to a car, and the grille transports it into the engine.

15. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Air Conditioning System

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The endoplasmic reticulum is an internal, folded membrane system. It contains inner folds called cisternae, which increase the surface area within the organelle. There are two types of the endoplasmic reticulum; the smooth ER and the rough ER. The rough ER has attached ribosomes found on the surface. The surface with ribosomes is continuous with the nuclear envelope. The function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum is for the completion of protein synthesis. It produces the final product of the protein itself. The rough ER uses the ribosomes attached to it to help produce the proteins. After the proteins are made, the rough ER then sends them to the Golgi complex to be packaged and then later, shipped away. The air conditioning system of a car works just like the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Using air from the car, the air conditioning uses power from the engine to cool down or heat up the air that has passed through the engine. This creates a circuit of heating and cooling the car. The system then pushes the cooled or heated air though vents and onto the passengers to make their car ride more enjoyable. The rough endoplasmic reticulum works this way by receiving proteins, and sending them to the Golgi complex to help the cell.

16. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Muffler

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The smooth endoplasmic reticulum has no ribosomes on the surface, unlike the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. It consists of tubules and vesicles that branch out to form a network of interconnected passageways in which the food received can travel through.
There are many functions of the smooth ER. One would be lipid synthesis, which is basically the process of making lipids. Another function is carbohydrate metabolism. During carbohydrate metabolism, the smooth ER breaks down carbohydrates and can use them for energy or send them along through the tubules and vesicles. The smooth ER in muscle cells can also store calcium. One of the other functions of the smooth ER is detoxification in liver cells. The actual detoxification takes place in the smooth ER as particles move through the tubules and vesicles. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is relatively the same thing as a muffler in a car. The muffler of a car is part of the exhaust system. Like the smooth ER in the liver cells, detoxification happens to go through the muffler. Gasses used by the engine pass through the muffler to then enter the outside air. Most of the engines noise also passes through the exhaust system. The muffler has lining in the pipes to cancel out the sound waves and create wave interference. In a sense, the muffler is breaking down the sound wave, like the smooth ER breaks down carbohydrates.

17. Cilia and the Wheels

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The cilia of a cell are small, numerous hair-like extensions of the cell membrane. Each cilia hair has a microtubule arrangement of nine sets of two microtubules. These sets form a cylinder around the outside of a cilia hair, and on the inside of the cilia are two more microtubules. This gives the cilia structure and strength. The function of the cilia is to transport the cell. Thousands of cilia move the cell across the surface. Working together, the cilia move like tank wheels move. It is not the one step front of the other type of movement. The cilia move effectively and are able to move the cell. Tires of a car work exactly like cilia. The treads and grooves of a car give the car traction. The rolling motion of the tires enables the car to move, just like the cilias roll over action to move a cell. The bearing inside of the tire are like the microtubules in cilia, they give support and strength to the car.