BMLS 2- Block I

1:00-3:00 BioScie Lab TThS R204

August 16, 2014
EXPERIMENT 2
CELLS

V. RESEARCH
1. Enumerate the organelle found in a typical cell. Describe each as to
structure and function.
NUCLEUS-a large structure surrounded by double membrane; the main
control center of the cell, regulating its activities, such as metabolism,
growth and gene synthesis. As the largest organelle, the nucleus contains
the majority of the cell's genetic information via deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA). The nucleus is surrounded and protected by what is referred to as a
"nuclear envelope." The envelope consists of an inner and outer membrane
and a fibrous network called the lamina.
Mitochondria sacs containing 2 membranes, and are called
"powerhouses" of a cell because they generate the cell's energy. Through a
process called oxidative phosphorylation (sometimes called cellular
respiration), mitochondria create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an enzyme
that functions like a turbine within a cell. This occurs because interactions
between electrons and protons create energy. The number of mitochondria
within any given cell ranges from a couple of hundred to thousands.
Lysosomes- a membranous sacs that contain approximately 50 different
enzymes, called acid hydrolases, that digest biological material, such as
lipids, proteins carbohydrates and nucleic acids, within a cell. Lysosomes
therefore function as a cell's "stomach." Once the material, which comes in
the form of molecules, is digested, it is moved back into a cell's intracellular
fluid (cytosol) to be utilized. Even though lysosomes are very diverse in
shape and size, they share common features. They are all acidic, carrying
pH levels of approximately 5, which is maintained by what amounts to an
internal protein pump. Lysosomes are also surrounded by a single
membrane and have a high volume of acid hydrolases.
Endoplasmic Reticulum is a Network of internal membranes that functions
as a platform for the synthesis of various materials, such as lipids, and
processes including carbohydrate metabolism and toxin detoxification. The
ER is a chain of interconnected sacs or membranes, which are linked to the
membrane of the nucleus.
2. Define protoplasmic movement. State its importance in cellular
viability.
Cytoplasmic streaming, also called protoplasmic streaming,
the movement of the fluid
substance (cytoplasm) within a plant or animal
cell. It is important in motion transports
nutrients, proteins, and organelles
within cells. First discovered in the 1830s, the presence of cytoplasmic streaming
helped convince biologists that cells were the fundamental units of life.

Although the mechanism of cytoplasmic streaming is not completely

understood, it is
thought to be mediated by motor proteinsmolecules made
up of two proteins that use
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to move one protein
in relation to the other. If one of the proteins remains fixed on a substrate, such as
a microfilament or a microtubule, the motor proteins can move organelles and
other molecules through the cytoplasm. Motor proteins often consist of
actin
filaments, long protein fibres aligned in rows parallel to the streaming just inside
the cell
membrane. Myosin molecules attached to cellular organelles
move along the actin fibres,
towing the organelles and sweeping other
cytoplasmic contents in the same direction.
3. a.) Is amoeboid movement the same as pseudopodial motion?
YES, Amoeboid movement is achieved by pseudopodia and
involves the flow of
cytoplasm as
extensions of the organism. The
process is visible under the light microscope as
a movement of
granules
within the organism. The basic locomotory organelle is the
pseudopodium.
The way in which movement is effected can vary slightly among groups but
generally involves the
polymerization of cytoskeletal proteins (actin and
myosin) at the leading
edge of the pseudopod, followed by the flow of
cytoplasmic material into the vacancy produced through the
polymerization
process. The flow of cytoplasm provides the momentum necessary to propel the
organism further in its direction of movement. Additional forces driving the
amoeboid
movement involve the eupodium, which extends into a potential
substrate for
a grab-like traction, similar to a tank tread. Pushing force is also
generated in the posterior
end of the organism by contractions of the
cytoskeletal proteins.
b.) Is cytoplasmic movement the same as cyclosis?
Cytoplasmic streaming or movement, also called cyclosis, transports
nutrients, enzymes,
and larger particles within cells, enhances the exchange
of materials between organelles, as well
as between cells. In some unicellular
organisms, such as amoeba, it provides the mechanism for
cell locomotion. It
is thought that microfilaments provide the driving force for, and control the
direction of, the streaming.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8451995_organelles-found-typical-cell.html
http://facstaff.cbu.edu/~seisen/EukaryoticCellStructure.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/148976/cytoplasmic-streaming
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/480488/protozoan/296860/Amoeboidmovement