Cell Structure and Function

The cell is…

generally microscopic.
able to control execute several
functions in all types of organi
sms.
 Definition of a cell:

 basic structural and functional unit of life

 the smallest units that display the chara

cteristics of life, i.e. reproduction, metab
olism, response to stimuli
General Subdivisions of a Cell

• Plasma Membrane = selectively permeable

boundary between the cell and the environment

• Nucleus = regulatory center of the cell

• Cytoplasm = everything between the plasma

membrane and the nucleus (fluid + organelles)
 Plasma Membrane
1. Structure = phospholipid bilayer with
proteins embedded in, and attached to, the
inner (intracellular) and outer
(extracellular) surfaces
2. Function
a. Selectively permeable barrier: controls what enters
and leaves the cell
b. Phospholipids are liquid at body temperature,
so proteins float around in the membrane
-functions as a Fluid Mosaic
Plasma Membrane
 Plasma Membrane (2)
2. Function – continued
Main responsibility: ensure the composition of
extracellular fluid is not the same as the composit
ion of the intracellular fluid
Water-soluble substances (salts, nutrients) cross
membrane with aid of protein channels, which are
selective about what can pass through
Lipids can pass directly through bilayer by
diffusion (the random walk of molecules)
Attachment site of cytoskeleton, the internal
support of the cell
 Plasma Membrane (3)
3. Glycocalyx = protein and carbohydrate co
at covering the extracellular surface of
the plasma membrane
a. Allows attachment to other cells
b. Allows the cell to interact with the environment
c. Gives each person’s cell a distinctive surface;
allows your body to recognize foreign tissues
as different from your own (i.e., blood type, transplan
t rejection)
Plasma Membrane
General Subdivisions of a Cell

• Plasma Membrane = selectively permea

ble boundary between the cell and the e
nvironment

• Nucleus = regulatory center of the cell

• Cytoplasm = everything between the pla

sma membrane and the nuclear compar
tment
Cell Structure Overvie
w
 Nucleus
1. Nuclear Envelope (membrane)
a. Phospholipid bilayer with nuclear pores

b. Controls what enters/leaves the nucleus

-- things only go in or out by passing through
protein channels, which are selective

c. Encloses all the chromosomes

 Nucleus
2. Chromatin = all the chromosomes, which ar
e long strands of the molecule DNA

-- DNA regulates all cell activities, yet never

leaves the nucleus; how is this possible?

produces RNA, short messenger molecules

that exit through nuclear pores

RNA carries instructions out into the cytoplasm

 Nucleus
3. Nucleolus – site of ribosome synthesis
a. compartment in the nucleus where ribsomes
are assembled

b. ribosomes are then moved out into cytoplasm

through nuclear pores

c. ribosomes and RNA work together outside

the nucleus, to build all the proteins in the cell
Nuclear Compartment
 Ribosomes
Ribosomes = site of protein synthesis
--assembled in the nucleolus
--exported into the cytoplasm

a. Free – unbound in the fluid cytoplasm, produce

proteins for use in the cell

b. Bound – attached to the endoplasmic reticulum (

ER), produce proteins for export, or for the plas
ma membrane
 Cytoplasm + Organelles
1. Fluid portion = “cytoplasm”
a. Water with dissolved salts, nutrients and en
zymes (= proteins that do a particular job)
b. Site of many metabolic reactions

2. Cytoskeleton = network of protein fibers

extending throughout the fluid cytoplasm
a. Support and structure for the cell
b. Very dynamic, always remodeling itself
c. Critical for cells to divide and copy themsel
ves
Cell Structur
e
 Organelles
1. Separate compartments within the cytoplasm
formed by membranes

2. Mitochondrion = “thread granule”, major

source of cell’s energy
a. energy is taken from sugar, stored in mole
cule
called ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
b. requires oxygen to make this exchange
(aerobic metabolism)
c. contained within double membrane
Mitochondrion
 Organelles (2)
3. The Cytomembrane System = system of
tubes and chambers formed by membranes

a. extensively distributed throughout the fluid

cytoplasm

b. involved in synthesis, modification,

processing & packaging of cellular lipids
and proteins
Cell Structure
 Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) = “within the
cytoplasm network”, a membranous system of tu
bes and sacs formed by membranes (an
enclosed space)
- Transport system
a) Rough = with bound ribosomes
--modifies proteins produced by the ribosomes

b) Smooth = without bound ribosomes

-doesn’t modify proteins
-functions in lipid synthesis, drug
detoxification, carbohydrate metabolism
Golgi Apparatus = series of flattened sacs formed
by membranes, functions in final protein
processing prior to use by the cell

a. proteins get shuttled from the ER to one end

of the Golgi

b. in each sac, different modifications are made

(proteins get individually tailored)

c. proteins get sorted and shipped off to their

destination (like the post office of the cell)
Vesicles = small membrane-bound structures that
transport proteins and lipids around the cell
a. little transporters that shuttle their contents from
one organelle to another
b. when they contact the appropriate
organelle, they fuse with its outer
membrane and dump their contents inside
c. same for plasma membrane, allowing the
export of materials from the cell (exocytosis)
Vesicles move from ER to Golgi
Lysosome = membrane-bound vesicle that
contains digestive enzymes or toxic
chemicals

a. merges with vesicles containing food

particles, invading bacteria

b. harsh chemicals and enzymes degrade

the food or bacteria, without harming
rest of cell
 Cell City Analogy
In a far away city called Grant City, the main export and production product
is the steel widget. Everyone in the town has something to do with steel
widget making and the entire town is designed to build and export widgets.
The town hall has the instructions for widget making, widgets come in all
shapes and sizes and any citizen of Grant can get the instructions and begin
making their own widgets. Widgets are generally produced in small shops
around the city, these small shops can be built by the carpenter's union
(whose headquarters are in town hall).
After the widget is constructed, they are placed on special carts which can
deliver the widget anywhere in the city. In order for a widget to be exported,
the carts take the widget to the postal office, where the widgets are packaged
and labeled for export. Sometimes widgets don't turn out right, and the
"rejects" are sent to the scrap yard where they are broken down for parts or
destroyed altogether. The town powers the widget shops and carts from a
hydraulic dam that is in the city. The entire city is enclosed by a large wooden
fence, only the postal trucks (and citizens with proper passports) are allowed
outside the city
1. Mitochondria __hydraulic dam______
2. Ribosomes __small shops________
3. Nucleus __town hall_______
4. Endoplasmic Reticu
__special carts___
lum
5. Golgi Apparatus __post office________
6. Protein ______widgets____
7. Cell Membrane ____fence______
8. Lysosomes _____scrap yard_____
9. Nucleolus ___carpenter's union___
 Cell Types
• Two categories:
1. Cell that have
membrane-bound organelles
– Called Eukaryotic Cells

2. Cells that do not have membra

ne-bound organelles
– called prokaryotic cells
• Unicellular organisms such as
bacteria are examples of proka
ryotes.
 Cell Types
• Eukaryotic cells-
– Cells that contain organelles which are held together
by membranes
– Examples include plant and animal cells.
Animal Cell vs. Plant Cell
What’s the difference?
small or no vacuole
chloroplasts
large vacuole

flagella

rectangluar shape

cell wall
 Plant and Animal Cells:
Differences
• Plant cells have cell walls that provide
structure. Animal cells do not have cell
walls.
• A few large animal cells have more than
one nucleus, but plant cells ALWAYS ha
ve just one.
• Plant cells have chloroplasts for
photosynthesis. Animal cells do not.
 More Differences:

• Animal cells use mitochondria for

energy production. Plants primarily use
chloroplasts to produce energy.
• Animal cells tend to have many small
vacuoles. Mature plant cells may have
• only one large vacuole.
• Animals cells have lysosomes, but plant
cells do not.
 Compare and Contrast
Plant Both Animal
have lysosomes
Have no lysosomes

cell wall mitochondrion no cell wall

Golgi
large apparatus
small or no
vacuole rough and smooth
endoplasmic
vacuole
chloroplasts reticulum no
nucleus chloroplasts
flagella cytoplasm flagella
only in ribosomes
gametes