Eukaryotic cell

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The Cell
Organelles

Plasma membrane: a cells boundary

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Separates two compartments

Defines the perimeter of the cell
Place of communication with the environment
and other cells
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One of the organelles is membrane bound nucleus

Cytoplasm contains supporting matrix called

cytoskeleton

The plasma membrane separates the

cell from the environment
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Life is a watery process

Needs boundaries

Channels
Receptors
Markers
Adhesion to each other and extracellular matrix

Plasma membrane
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Enclosed by plasma membrane

Subdivided into membrane bound compartments
- organelles

Plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer with various

proteins that are embedded in it
Plasma membrane = lipid bilayer

The plasma membrane

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The fundamental structure of all cell membranes

is lipid bilayer
Lipid bilayer is similar in every organism and
every part of the cell
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Lipid bilayer just isolates two spaces

Membrane proteins that are present in the cell

membranes give each membrane a specific
function (markers, channels, receptors)

The nucleus: control center of the cell

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Nuclear envelope
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Largest organelle
First described by Robert Brown in 1831
Contains hereditary apparatus (chromosomes)
submerged in nucleoplasm
Enveloped by double membrane called nuclear
envelope (double membrane
does NOT mean bilayer, it
means TWO bilayers!!!)

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Nuclear envelope
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Outer membrane is continuous with the rough

endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and has ribosomes
attached
The space between the outer
and inner membranes is
continuous with rough
endoplasmic reticulum space

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Outer membrane
Inner membrane

Contains nuclear pores

Nuclear pores are place
of selective transport
between cytoplasm and
inside of nucleus (proteins,
mRNA)

Nuclear pores
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Structure of the nuclear pore

Double membrane bag that surrounds nucleus

Formed at sites where inner

and outer membranes
membranes are pinched
together
Chromatin is organized so
that a "pathway" is created to
the nuclear pore
Filled with filamentous
material

SEM photo of nuclear pores

Nuclear pore is a selectivity

filter
A ring of 8 subunits
Each subunit projects a
spoke-like unit into the center
so that the pore looks like a
wheel with 8 spokes from
the top
Inside is a central "plug

Inside of the nucleus

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Nucleolus

Interior contains nucleoplasm

Chromatine arranged in chromosomes is
submerged in nucleoplasm
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Chromatin exists in extended and condensed forms

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Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): walls

within the cell
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Little net
Network of interconnected,
closed membrane vesicles
Single membrane
Divides a cell into
compartments
Place of protein and
phospholipid synthesis
Connected with the nuclear
envelope!

Rough ER

A highly visible region in nucleus consisting of

aggregation of rRNA and ribosomal proteins place of ribosomes assembly
Nucleolus is not a structure!!! Just a visible
region

Smooth ER

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No attached ribosomes
Anchoring place for enzymes
Site of fatty acid and phospholipid synthesis
Ca2+ storage (intracellular Ca2+ stores)

Golgi complex - delivery system of

the cell
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Contains several to several

hundred flattened
compartments & vesicles that:
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ER with ribosomes attached to it (not

permanently!)
Place of the synthesis proteins that will be later
inserted into the cell membranes and proteins
that will be secreted from the cell
+ everything that smooth ER does

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Process
Package
Distribute molecules synthesized
in the cell

Single membrane

Lysosomes: recycling centers of the

cell

Golgi complex
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Three defined regions

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Cis - fusion with ER (entry)

Medial
Trans - place of budding
secretory vesicles (exit)

Digestive organelles
Responsible for degrading
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Certain cell components

Material internalized from the
extracellular environment

Each region contains different

set of modifying enzymes

Lysosomes
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Single membrane organelle

Acidic organelles - low pH due to proton
pump (pH=5) in the membrane
Contain many degradative enzymes such as
acid hydrolases

Tay-Sachs disease is a genetic defect in

one of specific lysosomal hydrolases

Lysosomes
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Primary lysosome inactive

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Proton pump is not working

Secondary lysosome active

Proton pump is o and pH drops to 5.0 or less

Without constant energy lysosomes pour into

cytoplasm and digest the cell

Peroxisomes
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Responsible for oxidation of fatty acids

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No ATP production, just heat

Protect the cell from hydrogen peroxide (contain

peroxidase)
Contain
Single membrane
Oxidases and catalase

Single membrane organelles

Mitochondrion: the cells chemical

furnace
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Place of oxidative
metabolism and ATP
production
Tubular sausage-shaped
organelles enveloped by
double membrane
Contains its own DNA and
ribosomes

Mitochondria
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Two membranes of different composition and

properties
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Matrix
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Mitochondrial DNAs (nongenomic)

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Mitochondria contain multiple mtDNA molecules

Genes in mtDNA exhibit cytoplasmic (maternal)
inheritance and encode rRNAs, tRNAs, and
some mitochondrial proteins
The size and coding capacity of mtDNA varies
considerably in different organisms

Human mitochondrial DNA

Outer membrane
Inner membrane
Intermembrane space
All enzymes for Krebs
cycle
mtDNA and ribosomes

Human mitochondrial DNA

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Circular molecule
Encodes mitochondrial rRNAs and 22 tRNAs
Contains no introns and no long noncoding
sequences
The products of mitochondrial genes are not
exported

Origins of double membrane

Mitochondria (and chloroplasts) are thought to

have originated as symbiotic, aerobic bacteria
swallowed by the cell

Cytoskeleton: interior framework of

the cell
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A network of protein filaments

which lend support to the cell
as well as effect cell
movement
Dynamic system - constant
assembly and disassembly

Three different types of cytoskeletal

fibers
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Three different types of cytoskeletal

fibers

Cytoskeleton consists of three different kinds of

filaments each composed a different type of
protein
Microfilaments
Intermediate filaments
Microtubules

All are protein polymers

Cytosol (cytoplasm)
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The portion of the cell enclosed by the cell

membrane but not part of any organelle
Divided into compartments through complicated
array of internal membranes
Contains
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All organelles
Cytoskeleton
Ribosomes
Metabolic enzymes