Cells

What’s a cell? The cell is the structural and functional unit of an organism. It is the
smallest structure capable of performing all the functions necessary to life.

Robert Hooke was the first person to use the term cell.

Cell Theory:
 All organisms are made up of basic living units called cells.
 All cells come only from previously existing cells.

Cell size: Cells must exchange ions gases, and nutrients to survive, they do this in
the cell surface and the movement of the materials is done by diffusion. The
efficiency of diffusion is the ratio of surface area and volume.
 Surface area: Represents how much diffusion can happen at one time. The
amount of surface area affects the ability to get material in and out of the
cell.
 Volume: How long it takes to get from the membrane to the center of the
cell by diffusion. As cells get larger in volume the proportionate amount of
surface area decreases.
 Small cells are most likely to have a more adequate surface area for
exchanging nutrients and wastes.
 Diffusion takes longer and is less effective when there is a larger volume and
smaller surface area.

Eukaryotic cells: They have a nucleus and a membrane, they can be unicellular
and multicellular.
Prokaryotic cell: they are called bacteria and they don’t have a nucleus.
They both share:
 CYTOPLASM
 CELL MEMBRANE
 RIBOSOMES
 GENETIC INFO.
-Plasma membrane: Is a phospholipid bilayer with protein molecules. It separates
the living contents of the cell from the surrounding environment. Regulates the
entrance and exit of molecules into and out of the cytoplasm. Semipermeable layer.
Allows separation of many metabolic processes. (endocytosis and exocytosis)
-Cytoplasm: Is composed of water and dissolved organic molecules. Contains
enzymes and nutrients that help reactions occur.
-Cell walls: Permeable or protective layer in addition to plasma membrane. It
contains polysaccharides and it works for protection and support.
-Nucleus: The nucleus stores genetic information like DNA which controls the
characteristics of the cells. Double membrane with many pores (allows molecules
to get through), the nucleus contains chromosomes, and the semi fluid interior is
the nucleoplasm.
-Nuclear envelope: double membrane with many pores that separates the nucleus
from the cytoplasm. (Many pores to permit transportation of proteins and
ribosomal units).
-nucleolus: Concentrated area of chromatin, RNA, PROTEINS and it makes the
ribosomes.
-Ribosomes: They do the synthesis of proteins using Rna as a template, they can be
found in the cytoplasm (free ribosomes) as well as in groups (polyribosomes), they
can also be found at the RER, and these are secreted from the cell or embedded in
the plasma membrane. They’re composed of 2 subunits. THEY DO PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS.
-Smooth endoplasmic reticulum: Synthesizes the phospholipid found in the cell
membranes, in the testes produces testosterone and, in the liver, detoxifies drugs. It
also transports lipids out of the cell.
-Rough endoplasmic reticulum: It has ribosomes attached to it, it synthesizes,
folds, modifies and transports proteins.
-Attached Ribosomes: they are making proteins that will be exported or used in
lysosomes.
-Unattached Ribosomes: they are making proteins that will be used in the cell.
-Golgi Apparatus: 3 to 20 slightly curved sacs (stack of pancakes). Collects, sorts
package and distributes materials such as proteins and lipids. They receive proteins
and lipids, and it modifies it to the put it in vesicles. They are also involved in
making lysosomes. PROTEINS THAT ARE MADE IN RER HAVE CODES
THAT TELL THE GOLGI WHERE THEY BELONG.
-Lysosomes: Membrane- bound vesicles produced by the Golgi, they contain
enzymes. They fuse with vesicles and the contents are digested by lysosomal
enzymes.
-Vacuoles: larger membranous sac that stores water, sugar, salt and pigments and
toxic molecules. They are large in plants and small in animals. Protists developed
contractile vacuoles to get rid of extra water.
-Peroxysome: large membrane bound vesicles that enclose enzymes. His enzymes
are made from free ribosomes and whose digestive actions in combination with O2
results inH2O2. Found in liver cells that produce bile salts. They are prevalent is
cells that synthesize and break down fats. (plants also have them)
-Mitochondria: Double membrane bound organelle, has an outer and inner
membrane. It is the major site of ATP production through cellular respiration.
o Matrix: The inner fluid filled space, contains ribosomes and enzymes that
breakdown carbs releasing energy to be used for ATP production.
o Cristae: The inner membrane that folds inward on itself. Provides surface
area to accommodate the protein complexes and things that produce ATP.
-Cytoskeleton: Built from 3 filament types: actin filaments, microtubules and
intermediate filaments. Maintains the cell shape and allows the cell and its
organelles to move. Its protein components can assemble and disassemble as
needed.
-Microfilaments: They are made of strands of protein that form a lattice throughout
the cell.
-Centrosome: Structure near the nucleus that controls microtubule assembly.
-Centrioles: They are cylinders of microtubules near the nucleus, before a cell
divides, they replicate producing two pairs. During cell division centrioles in their
respective centrosomes separate so that each new cell has one centrosome with two
centrioles.
-Cilia and Flagella: Membrane bound cylinders enclosing a matrix area directs the
movement of fibres in cilia and flagella. The cell uses these for locomotion.
-Endocytosis: Allows larger materials to enter the cell as they’re not able to pass
directly through the cell membrane or through transport proteins.
o Phago: Involves the cell engulfing larger substances. (solids) (protein,
glucose, lipid)
o Pyno: Engulfing liquids or substances dissolved in liquids. (NaCl)
-Exocytosis: Molecules are transported outside the cell.
-Cholesterol in plasma membrane serves to stiffen and strengthen the membrane.
Regulate the fluidity of the membrane.
-Fluid: Continuous substance whose molecules move freely past one another and
assumes the shape of its container.
-Mosaic: Formed by uniting pieces of different colors, also composed of various
materials and ingredients.
-Membrane proteins: Some span the entire membrane (integrals) others only reach
halfway through (peripheral). Portions of the proteins that are in the bilayer have
many non-polar amino acids.
o Channel proteins: Involved in the passage of molecules through the
membrane.
o Carrier proteins: they combine with a substance and help it move across the
membrane.
 o Cell recog proteins: they are glycoproteins (carb joined to a protein) . They
help the body recognize when it is being invaded by pathogens so that an
immune reaction can occur.
o Receptor proteins: they have a shape that allows this specific molecules to
bind to it.
o Enzymatic proteins: carry out Metabolic reactions.
The cell membrane is selectively permeable: it means that certain substances can
move across the membrane while others cannot.