Cell Physiology

Citra Rosyidah
What is a cell?
 structural and functional units of all living
organisms
 unicellular and multicellular organisms
 bacteria vs. human
specialized functions

nutrients energy source

reproduce
Eukaryote vs. Prokaryote

eg. fungi eg. bacteria

animals
plants
unicellular organisms: yeast, Dictyostelium etc.
Biggest differences: Prokaryotes lack a nuclear membrane!
Prokaryotes don't have intracellular organelles!
Prokaryotes about 10X size of Eukaryotes.
Plasma membrane: a cell's protective coat
outside the cell

double layer of lipids

proteins
inside the cell

Several functions of membrane proteins:

outside the cell

inside the cell

inport and export cross-linking of
of molecules membrane proteins amplification of convertion of product
extracellular signal X into product Y
The cytoskeleton: a cell's scaffold
 very complex and dynamic cell component!
 organizes and maintains the cell's shape (e.g. epithelial
cells of the gut)
 anchors the organells in place
 helps during the uptake of external material
(endocytosis)
 involvement in cell movement
 growth
The cytoskeleton: a cell's scaffold
The cytoplasm (cytosol): a cell's inner
space
Plasma
membrane

Cytoskeleton
cytosol

large fluid-filled space (mostly water + proteins that control most of th

cell metabolisms):
glycolysis, transcription factors, intracellular receptors etc.
 Organelles

 Nucleus
 Protein production machine: the ribosomes
 Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
 Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Golgi apparatus
 Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

Adapted and/or specialized for carrying out one or more vital functions.
Reminder! Are only found in eukaryotes.
 Nucleus: a cell's center
Structure of the nucleus: Function of the nucleus:

- Stores the chromosomes (genetic

material)
Note: 2 kinds of genetic material:
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
- production of ribosomes in nucleolus
- protection of DNA from damaging
molecules of molecules that interfere
with its processing
- DNA replication and synthesis of
messenger RNA (mRNA)

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/nucleus.html
Endoplasmic Reticulum and the
Ribosomes:

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/ribosome.htm
Endoplasmic Reticulum
ER is a continuation of the outer nuclear membrane.
ER has smooth regions (responsible for lipid and membrane
protein modifications) and rough regions (associated with
ribosomes responsible for the synthesis of other proteins)

source: http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/er.htm
 Golgi apparatus
Function:
- modification of lipids and proteins
- storage and packaging of materials that will be exported from the cell.

source: http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/golgi.htm
Mitochondria
● Contain their own genome
(distinct from nuclear
genome)
● Self-replicating
● Critical role in generation of
energy (called ATP):
- Glycolysis (without oxygen
use)
- Kreb’s cycle (in presence of
oxygen)
Lysosomes
● Rich in digestive enzymes (that work at low
pH)
● Digest fforeing bacteria that invade a cell
● Recycling of membrane components
● Repair damage to plasma membrane
Peroxisomes
● Get rid of toxic substances
● Many in the liver

lysosome
Making new Cells and Cell types
(1) Making New Cells

Unicellular organisms:
Asexual reproduction: replication of genetic material and splitting 1 cell
Into 2 identical cells

Multicellular organisms:
Mitosis to produce for example new skin cells and liver cells.
Meiosis or sexual reproduction to create a whole new organism (gametes)

Human chromosomes
Overview of the major events in
mitosis

Interphase prophase metaphase anaphase telophase

In case of DNA damage or failure of critical processes

P53 stimulates induction of inhibitory Defects in p53 are associated with a
proteins that halt DNA replication variety of cancers
DNA damage repair or initiation of programmed cell death (apoptosis)
Overview of the major events in
meiosis
Production of gametes
2 cell divisions in sequence

Big difference between mitosis and meiosis

DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis
 DNA structure – base pairs
adenosine thymine

cytosine

guanine

Source: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/Molecular_Graphics/DNA_Structure/DNA_Tutorial.HTML
DNA –
Side view:
The code of life
3’ end 5’ end
Double stranded
AT – GC basepairs
Right handed spiral

View down helix axis:

3’ end
5’
Source: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/Molecular_Graphics/DNA_Structure/DNA_Tutorial.HTML
 DNA replication
Occurs during cell division.
Requires:
- Helicases (unwind DNA)
- DNA polymerases (can bind single
Stranded DNA and can move only
In 3’ to 5’ direction.
- DNA ligase stitches Okazaki fragments

Source: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/D/DNAReplication.html

Animation:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/dnarep/repstrands.html?blah=&step=6
Transcription: RNA synthesis

Basic structure of a protein encoding gene:

DNA
Transcription: RNA synthesis
(1) Initiation

- Involves transcription factors (TFs) and

RNA polymerase
- Recognition of TATA box (located ~ 20
to 30 bp of transcription initiation site)
Transcription (elongation) (2)

/antisense strand
 Transcription (termination) (3)
RNA polymerase falls off

terminator

Animation:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/images/transcription/tcani.gif
DNA vs. RNA
Post-transcriptional
modifications
Protein synthesis: Translation initiation
Protein synthesis:
elongation (2)
translation:
termination (3)
 Protein translation: summary
Elongation

Initiation

Termination

http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/translation/init.html
Summary