golgi bodies, centrioles, cell wall, plasma membrane etc.
Organelles: Structure & Function Organelles: Structure & Function Plant Cell Cell/Plasma Membrane/ Plasma Lemma
Function: Controls what enters & exits the cell. It acts as a
selectively permeable membrane. It checks the entry of
toxic elements from outside into the cytoplasm.
Moreover, it permits only one way passage for molecules
like minerals into the cell and restricts their outward
movement. Structure: Phospholipid bilayer Nucleus
Discovered by Robert Brown in 1833.
Function: Controls everything in the cell i.e. Brain of the cell. Structure: Contains chromosomes and gene/DNA, it is called as controlling centre of cell. Enclosed by a porous double membrane called the nuclear membrane/ nuclear envelope. Nucleus consists of three parts viz., nuclear envelope, nucleolus and chromatin. ULTRA STRUCTURE OF NUCLEUS Nuclear Envelope: Functions: 1. Protects chromosome from cytoplasmic effects. 2. Permits transport of electrons and exchange of material between nucleus and cytoplasm. Nucleolus A spherical body found in the nucleus is called nucleolus. It is found in higher organisms and is attached with specific region of a particular chromosome. It disappears during prophase of mitosis and meiosis and reappears during telophase. Function: 1.Formation of ribosomes. 2.Synthesis of RNA. It produces 70 to 90 per cent of cellular RNA in many cells. Structure: Dense region inside the nucleus Nucleolus consists of three parts- Granules, fibrils and matrix. Chromatin
Chromatin : Chromatin refers to partly clumped and tangled
mass of nuclear chromosomes. The chromatin fiber is about 230
A0 in diameter and contains about 55 per cent proteins, 40 per
cent DNA and 4-5 Per cent RNA. Chromatin is a basic unit of
chromosomes, contains genes and thus plays an important role
in the inheritance of characters from parents to their offspring.
Ribosomes Ribosomes are small cellular particles which are the sites of protein synthesis. Since they are rich in RNA contents, they are called ribosomes. Ribosomes have two sub- units – Larger and Smaller sub unit
Eukaryotes – 80s (60 s & 40s)
Prokaryotes -70s (50s& 30s) Function- Main function of ribosomes is to carry out protein synthesis with the help of mRNA. A cluster of ribosomes called poly-ribosomes or polysomes play an active role in protein synthesis. Golgi Apparatus/Body/Complex Structure: Closely layered stacks of membrane enclosed discs Golgi bodies arise from rough ER. The rough ER becomes smooth resulting in the formation of Golgi complex. The main function of Golgi complex is packaging of food materials such as proteins, lipids and phospholipids for transport to other cells. Lysosome Function: Breaks down food, waste & damaged cell parts all within the cell Structure: Contains enzymes; membrane bound Peroxisomes Peroxisomes were first reported in plant cells by Talbert and his colleagues in 1968. Peroxisomes are organelles bounded by a single membrane, named for their content of enzymes that produce and degrade hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Oxidases produce H2O2 and peroxidases such as catalase break it down. Peroxisomes also contain diverse enzymes for the metabolism of lipids and other metabolites, including the β- oxidation of fatty acids and oxidation of bile acids and cholesterol. All peroxisomal proteins are encoded by nuclear genes, translated on cytoplasmic ribosomes, and then subsequently incorporated into peroxisomes. Peroxisomes contain several enzymes –glycolate oxidase, glyoxylate reductase, catalase, glyoxylate transaminase and malate dehydrogenase. A major function of the peroxisome is the breakdown of very long chain fatty acids through beta-oxidation. In animal cells, the long fatty acids are converted to medium chain fatty acids, which are subsequently shuttled to mitochondria where they are eventually broken down to carbon dioxide and water. Vacuoles Vacuoles are found in plant cells. Sometimes, two or more vacuoles are fuse together to form a large vacuole. It stores materials for cell. Vacuoles are fluid filled sacs; small in animal cells; large in plant cells. Plastids Plastids: Plastids are self replicating cytoplasmic organelles found in plant cells only. Plastids are three types- 1.Leucoplasts- Leucoplasts are colourless and are associated with storage of starch, protein and fat.
2.Chromoplasts- Chromoplasts have colour but other than
green (mainly yellow/orange), viz. plucoxanthin, phycocyanin etc. Their function is not yet known.
3.Chlororplasts- Chloroplasts are green and associated with
photosynthesis. These are three types of plastids originate from proplastid and are interchangeable Plastids Chloroplast Function: Uses sunlight to create food, photosynthesis (only found in green plants & algae) Structure: bean shaped; contains chlorophyll (green pigment) Ultra structure of chloroplast consist of three parts, viz. membrane, stroma and grana Membrane- Each chloroplast is enclosed by two concentric unit membranes, the outer and inner membranes. The outer membrane is permeable to small particles, whereas the inner membrane is impermeable. Stroma- The space inside the inner membrane is known as stroma. It contains enzymes related to dark reaction of photosynthesis. Grana- In higher plants, the stroma contains small cylindrical structures called grana. Number of grana varies from 40-80 per stroma. Each granum consists of 5-25 flat cisternae known as thylakoids placed one above the other.The grana are inter connected by fine tubules known as inter grana lamellae or stroma lamellae. A group of units which constitute stroma and grana lamellae are known as quantasomes. These are associated with electron transport and photo-phosphorylation. Functions- The prime function of chloroplast is to carry out the process of photosynthesis. The light reaction takes place in grana and dark reaction in stroma. Chloroplasts absorb light energy in the form of photons and use the same for conversion of ADP to ATP. Chloroplasts contain some amount of DNA and thus also play an important role in cytoplasmic inheritance. Mitochondria Function: 1.Supplies energy in the form of ATP to the cell 2. site of cellular respiration 3. contain some amount of DNA and thus associated with cytoplasmic inheritance. powerhouse’ of cell Structure: Bean shaped; 2 membranes; has own DNA & ribosomes Mitochondria consists of three main parts- membrane, cristae and matrix. Membranes- Each mitochondrion is enclosed by two concentric membranes, the outer membrane and the inner membrane. Cristae- The inner membrane has a series of inside folds known as Cristae. Matrix- The space between cristae into the inner chamber is called matrix. Each mitochondrion has several copies of circular DNA molecule. Enzymes associated with Kreb’s cycle are also present in matrix. Cytoplasm/Cytosol Function: Hold organelles in place & site for chemical reactions Structure: Jelly – like substance between the area of the nucleus & cell membrane Cell Wall
The cell wall is found only in plants and is absent in animals. It
is the outermost part of the cell and is always non-living,
though produced and maintained by living protoplasm.
Functions- 1. Protect inner parts of cell.
2. Give a definite shape to the cell and
3. Provide mechanical support to the tissues.
In higher plants: cell wall is differentiated into three parts- middle lemella, primary cell wall and Secondary cell wall. Middle lemella- It is the common layer between adjacent cells. It is composed of calcium and magnesium pectate. Primary cell wall- A thin and elastic membrane which lies between middle lemella and secondary cell wall. It is largely composed of cellulose and pectic substances. Secondary cell wall- The inner most layer of cell wall which lies between primary cell wall and plasma membrane. It is primarily composed of microfibrils of cellulose. Endoplasmic Reticulum The term endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was first used by Porter in 1948 to describe a fine reticulum in the endoplasmic cells. It refers to a vast network of membrane enclosed tubules, vesicles and sacs in the cytoplasm. ER is found in differentiated cells. Under electron microscope, ER appears as a double membrane structure with variable spaces. ER forms continuous systems. It is attached to nuclear envelope on one side and cell membrane on the other. ER is made up of three types of elements- tubules, vesicles and cisterns. Types- 1. Rough or granular ER (contain ribosomes) 2. Smooth or agranular ER (devoid of ribosomes) Rough ER is well developed in the cells which are actively engaged protein synthesis. Smooth ER is found in the regions which are rich in glycogen. It consists of smooth membrane. ER is rich in lipid contents. Smooth ER contains more lipids than rough ER. Functions- 1. It is associated with synthesis of proteins ( rough ER), lipids and glycogen (rough and smooth ER) 2.Acts as an inter –cellular transport system for various substances 3. Contains lot of enzymes and 4. Provides passage for m RNA from nucleus to the cytoplasm. Centrioles
Centrioles are found in animal cells only. The wall of each
centriole consists of nine triplet fibrils which are arranged
around a central axis. The cytoplasm at the poles of spindle is
known as Centrosphere. The centrioles and centrosphere
together known as Centrosome.
Functions: The main function of centrioles is formation of spindle apparatus at the time of cell division. The spindle fibres help in orientation of chromosomes at equatorial plate during metaphase and also in the movement of chromosomes towards opposite poles during anaphase. Flagellum (flagella = plural) Tail used for movement Comparing Plant and Animal Cells Plant Cells vs Animal Cells: Similarities 1. Both animal and plant cells have cell membranes that enclose the cell. 2. Both are filled with cytoplasm, a gel-like substance containing chemicals needed by the cell. 3. Both have a nucleus where DNA is stored. 4. Both have ribosomes, protein builders of cells. 5. Both have endoplasmic reticulum, where a system of tubes transports proteins. 6. Both have Golgi bodies to distribute proteins outside of the cell. Plant and Animal Cells: Differences
1. Plant cells have cell walls that provide structure. Animal
cells do not have cell walls.
2. A few large animal cells have more than one nucleus, but
plant cells ALWAYS have just one.
3. Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Animal
cells do not. 4. Animal cells use mitochondria for energy production.
Plants primarily use chloroplasts to produce energy.
5. Animal cells tend to have many small vacuoles. Mature
plant cells may have only one large vacuole.
6. Animals cells have lysosomes, but plant cells do not.
7. Animals cells have centrioles, but plant cells do not.
