The Cell

Ch 6
Cell
• Discovered by Robert Hooke
• Light microscope – cell structure
(organelles)
• Electron microscope – 1950’s enabled all
structures to be identified using beam of
electrons
• Transmission electron microscope – study
internal structure of cells
• Scanning electron microscope – study
surface of cell
Antarctic mite head (electron
micrograph)
TEM and SEM
• Cell fractionation – separates
organelles
• Breaks apart cells and centrifuges
them to separate organelles by size
 Cell size is limited
• Several smaller cells increases surface
area for exchange across membrane
Types of cells

• Prokaryotic (“before nucleus”)

• Ex: bacteria and cyanobacteria (blue-
green algae)
• Eukaryotic (“true nucleus”)
• Yeast, plant and animal cells
Prokaryotic cells

• NO nucleus
• DNA found in nucleiod
• Smaller and simpler
• Cytosol – semifluid substance
organelles are found
• Cytoplasm – interior of prokaryotic cell
(space between nucleus and plasma
membrane eukaryotic cell)
• Plasma membrane – selectively permeable
barrier that surrounds the cell
• Cell wall – outer rigid layer of cellulose( in
plants)/ peptidoglycan (bacteria) that protects,
supports and gives structure to cell
• Ribosomes – site of protein synthesis
• Made of rRNA and protein
• 2 subunits join together
• Note: 2 types free and bound, prokaryotes only
have free
Organelles unique to some
prokaryotes
• Capsule – sticky layer, surrounds cell
wall, protects cell and adheres to
surfaces
• Pilli – conjugation (cell sex)
• Flagella – long tails, used for
movement/locomotion (some euk.
have this too)
Eukaryotic cells

• Bigger and more complex

• Have everything prokaryotic cells
have and more
Where did Eukaryotic Cells
come from? Theory of
Endosymbiosis
Evidence of Endosymbiosis
• All eukaryotic cells have mitochondria or
remnants of mitochondria – believed to
evolve 1st
• Similarities between bacteria and
mitochondria/chloroplasts
• Size
• Inner membranes from membranes of
prokaryotes
• Enzymes and transfer systems of prokaryotes
• Replicate similar to binary fission
• Circular DNA genome
• tRNA, ribosomes and other equipment needed
for protein synthesis
• Ribosomes similar to prokaryotic ribosomes
2Types

• Animal cell
• Centrioles – help to organize
microtubules during cell division
• Lysosome – filled with acidic enzymes
to break down lipids, carbohydrates,
proteins and old cell parts to be used
by the cell
• pH of 5 separated from rest of cell
Ways animal cells use
lysosomes
• Phagocytosis – engulfing of food
particles
• Autophagy – recycling of cell parts
• Programmed destruction of cells –
during development
• ex: tadpole tail -> frog, webbing
between human fingers and toes
Inherited disorders of
lysomes
• Pompe’s disease – lack glycogen
digesting enzyme
• liver damage
• Tay-Sach’s disease – lack of lipid
digesting enzyme
• impaired brain function
Other specialized structures
• Animal cells
• extra cellular matrix (ECM) provides
support, protection, adhesion and
movement
• made mostly of collagen
• Tight junctions – fuses membranes of
neighboring cells to prevent loss of
extracellular fluid
• ex: intestines
• Desmosomes – fasten cells together
into strong sheets
• Gap junctions – cytoplasmic channels
between neighboring cells that allow
salt ions, sugars, amino acids and
other molecules to pass
• Controlled by proteins
• Plant cell
• Chloroplast – chlorophyll containing
for photosynthesis
• Contains thylakoids (flattened sacs with
chlorophyll) surrounded by stroma (fluid)
• Member of plastid family
• Amyloplasts – colorless and store starch
• Chromoplasts – contain yellow/orange
pigment
• Central vacuole – large area of
storage for water and other
substances
• Enclosed by selective permeable
tonoplast
• Cell wall
• Provides support, protection and shape
• Prevents cell from taking in too much water
• Made of cellulose
• Plant cells:
• Plasmodesmata – channels that allow
for the passage of cytosol, water,
macromolecules and other small
molecules between neighboring cells
Organelles of all eukaryotic
cells
• Nucleus
• Surrounded by porous nuclear envelope
• Lined with nuclear lamina – provides shape
and structure
• Contains DNA and proteins in the form of
chromatin (fibers)
• During cell division chromatin condense into
chromosomes
• Nucleolus – makes rRNA for ribosomal
subunits
Endomembrane System
• Vesicles – tiny sacs for transport within the
cell
• Endomembrane system - collection of
membranes related through direct physical
contact or by the transfer of vesicles
• Includes:
• Nuclear envelope
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus
• Lysosomes
• Vacuoles
• Plasma membrane
• Golgi apparatus – modifies, stores and
ships products of ER to rest of cell
• Also makes most macromolecules
• Transport vesicles travel from ER to Golgi
apparatus
• Composed of flattened sacs = cisternae
• 2 sides:
• Cis face – receiving portion near ER
• Trans face – shipping portion where vesicles
pinch off and leave
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) – series of
passageways for substances within the cell
• 2 types:
• Smooth ER – no ribosomes attached
• Makes lipids, metabolizes carbohydrates and
detoxifies cell of drugs and poisons
• Rough ER – ribosomes attached (bound
ribosomes)
• Makes proteins and transports them through the
cytosol by transport vesicles
• Produces endoplasmic reticulum membrane
Vacuoles

• Larger than vesicles

• Types:
• Food vacuoles (phagocytosis)
• Contractile vacuoles – pump excess
water out of cell
• Central vacuole (plant cells)
Other membranous
organelles
• Mitochondria – “powerhouse” of the cell
• Site of cellular respiration
• Has small amounts of DNA
• Enclosed by 2 phospholipid bilayer
membranes
• Outer bilayer smooth
• Inner bilayer has foldings (cristae) = larger surface
area for cellular respiration
• 2 internal compartments:
• Intermembrane space
• Mitochondrial matrix (contains enzymes, DNA and
ribososmes)
• Peroxisome – break down fatty acids
and detoxify alcohol and other harmful
compounds
• 1 membrane
• Contains enzymes that make
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a by-
product
• Also contains enzyme that converts
hydrogen peroxide to water
Cytoskeleton

• = network of fibers extending

throughout the cytoplasm
• Purpose:
• Structure and support
• Anchors organelles
• Provides cell movement both
externally and internally (vesicles)
3 main types of fibers
• 1. microtubules
• Hollow tubes made of tublin
• Thickest and grow out from centrosome
(found near nucleus)
• Provides support and shape of cell
• Acts as “tracks” for organelle movement
• Separates chromosomes during cell division
• Movement for flagella and cilia
Flagella vs. Cilia
• Flagella
• One or two per cell and longer
• Undulating motion
• Cilia
• Large amount on cell surface and shorter
• Moves circular like oars of a rowboat
• Both made of 9 doublets of microtubules shaped in a ring and 1
doublet inside (9 + 2 arrangement)
• covered in plasma membrane
• Anchored in basal body
• Movement occurs by protein dynein

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGAm6
hMysTA&feature=related
• 2. microfilaments
• Supports cell’s shape by bearing tension
• Thinnest made of actin
• Provides cell movement (muscles)
• Occurs by actin and myosin
• Pseudopodia (amoeboid movement)
• Cytoplasmic streaming (circular cytoplasm flow)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rnh
iMxtKU

• Bundles make up microvilli (increase

absorptive surface area of small intestines)
• 3. Intermediate filaments
• Middle sized and made from keratins
• Support shape
• Bear tension
• Fix organelles in place
• More permanent