Cell structure

and function

Maj. W M M S Bandara
B.Sc (Hons), MSc , MS (USA), M.I.Biol
Faculty of Medicine
General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University

Cell origin of living

organisms

All organisms living now on

Earth
derived from a single cell
born
3,500 millions of years ago.

Smallest living unit of an organism

Grow, reproduce, use energy,
adapt,
respond to environment

Discovery of Cells

Robert Hooke (mid1600s)

Observed sliver of cork
Saw row of empty boxes
Coined the term cell

Cell theory

1839- Matthias Schleiden & Theodor Schwann

all living things are made of cells
50 yrs. Later- Rudolf Virchow
all cells come from cells

Principles of Cell Theory

All living things are made of cells
Smallest living unit of structure and function of all
organisms is the cell
All cells arise from pre-existing cells

Can We See Cells?

Cell common features

All Cells have
a.
An outermost plasma membrane
b.
Genetic material in the form of DNA
c.
Cytoplasm with ribosomes

Why Are Cells So Small?

Cells need sufficient surface area to allow adequate
transport of nutrients in and wastes out.
As cell volume increases, so does the need for the
transporting of nutrients and wastes.
If the cells volume gets too large it cannot transport
enough wastes out or nutrients in.
Thus, surface area limits cell volume/size.

Observing Cells
Light microscope
Can observe living cells in true color
Magnification of up to ~1000x
Resolution ~ 0.2 microns 0.5 microns

Observing Cells

contd..

Electron Microscopes
Preparation kills the cells
Images are black and white may be colorized
Magnifcation up to ~100,000

Transmission electron microscope (TEM)

(2-D image)
Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
(3-D image)

Development of microscope

Fluorescence
microscopy

Confocal microscopy

Cell Types
On the basis of microscopic and biochemical
differences cell are broadly classified in to
Prokaryotic
Eukaryotic

Prokaryotes
Have no membrane-bound organelles / no nucleus
Nucleoid = region of DNA concentration
Smaller and simpler in structure than eukaryotic cells.
Single-celled(unicellular) / filamentous (strings of single
cells)

Two most common blue green bacteria and true

bacteria

Prokaryotes are microscopic

A micrometer is 1/1,000 of a millimeter and these
bacillus shape bacteria are about 5 micrometers
in length.

Prokaryotic Cell Structure

Structures
Plasma membrane
Cell wall
Cytoplasm with ribosomes
Nucleoid (Circular DNA molecule)
Capsule*
Flagella* and pili*

*present in some, but not all prokaryotic cells

Eukaryotic Cells

Fungi, protists, plant, and animal cells

Possess many membrane-bound organelles
A distinct part of a cell- has a particular structure and
function for division of labor
Nucleus bound by membrane
Cells are compartmentalized : organelles surrounded by
membranes

Ultra structure of a typical cell

Cytoplasm
Viscous fluid containing organelles
Primary component - water
Components of cytoplasm
Interconnected filaments & fibers
Fluid = cytosol
Organelles, storage substances
and biomolecules are suspended
in it

Plasma Membrane
1972 Singer & Nicolson : fluid mosaic model
A double layer of phospholipids organized with their
hydrophilic heads outwards and their hydrophobic tails
inwards. PL bilayer fluid (move rapidly)
hydrophobic tails barrier
Some fatty acids saturated, some unsaturated
Unsaturated bend closely, fit loosely .
Many types of proteins embedded or attached to the
bilayer carry out membrane functions
Combination of above allows cell to regulate entry and
exit of materials from cell

Basic Structure of Cell

Membranes

Plasma membrane

Plasma membrane - functions

Isolates cell contents
Controls the transport of molecules in to and out of cell
A few molecules move freely - Water, Carbon dioxide, Ammonia,
Oxygen
Carrier proteins & channel proteins : selective transport of
polar and ions
Receptors : specific shape ,chemical signaling, response to
hormones & neurotransmitters
Enzymes : microvilli on epithelial cells digestive enzymes
Antigens: Cell identify markers glycoproteins with
carbohydrades
Glycolipids: branching carbohydrates- sell to cell signaling
sticking the correct cells together in tissues

Transport across cell

membrane

Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis &

Endocytosis

Cell eating

Cell drinking

Materials solid form

WBC engulf bacteria

Materials- liquid form

Human egg cell
nutrients from
surroundings

Receptor mediated

Exocytosis

Reverse process of endocytosis

Waste materials / undigested food removed
Secretion of enzymes - pancrease

Nucleus

Nucleus
Cells control center
Nuclear envelope - two Phospholipid bilayers with
protein lined pores. Each pore is a ring of 8 proteins
with an opening in the center of the ring
Nucleoplasm fluid of the nucleus
Nucleolus - dark spot in the middle of the nucleus
Chromosome fiber of DNA with proteins attached
Chromatin all of the cells DNA and the
associated
protein/ area of condensed DNA

Nuclear Envelope
Double membrane / pores
Separates nucleolasm and its contents from rest
of cell
Maintain the shape
Nuclear pore : mRNA, ribosomes out
proteins, nucleotides,
hormones - in

DNA Chromatin, Chromosomes,

genes
Chromatin
All DNA and its associated proteins in the nucleus
Chromosome
A single DNA molecule with its attached proteins
During cell division, chromosomes condense and
become visible in micrographs
Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 sets of 2)
Genes are identified as stretches of DNA that carry
the heritable information for a trait

0.05

Nucleolus
Most cells have 2 or more
Directs synthesis of rRNA
Forms ribosomes

Rough endoplasmic Reticulum

Rough endoplasmic Reticulum

ER is a complex network of flattened membrane
bound sacs and tubes
The space of the ER is continuous with the space
between two nuclear membranes
Other regions of the ER have ribosomes and
appear rough
Transport of proteins
Contains enzymes that recognize and modify
proteins
Once modified, the proteins are packaged in
transport
vesicles for transport to the Golgi body

Rough endoplasmic Reticulum

Rough endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth endoplasmic Reticulum

A network of pipe-like interconnected tubes

Continuous with RER
No ribosomes attached

Functions
1.Makes fats / lipids/ phospholipids/sterols.
2.Lipids are packaged in transport vesicles and sent to
the golgi
3.Processing of sugars
4.Drug detoxification
5.Transport of proteins from RER
6.Calcium storage

Smooth endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth endoplasmic Reticulum

Ribosomes

Ribosomes

rRNA-protein complexes composed of two

subunits
Assembled in nucleoli
Found in all cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic
Free-floating / attached to ER
Function
Makes proteins

Golgi complex

Golgi complex
Stack of flattened membrane sacs
Associated with ER
Functions
Completes the processing substances received
from the ER
Sorts, modifies further and packages fully
processed proteins and lipids in vesicles and
transport different parts of the cell
Molecular tags are added to the fully modified
substances
These tags allow the substances to be sorted
and packaged appropriately.
Tags also indicate where the substance is to be
shipped

Golgi complex - functions

Aid the formation of lysosomes
Cell membrane engulfs particles outside the cell
forms endosome.
Vesicle travels through the cell, contents digested
as it merges Vesicles containing enzymes from the
Golgi.
Releases cellular contents outside of the cell /
Exocytosis
A transport vesicle from the Golgi or elsewhere in
the cell merges its membrane with the plasma
membrane and releases its contents.
In this way, membranes are continually recycled
and reused

Mitochondria
The Powerhouse of the cell
Makes ATP molecules (energy) through aerobic
respiration
Contains two membranes
Outer membrane
Inner membrane Site of electron transport chain /
oxidative
phosphorylation
Matrix Site of Krebs cycle
Has its own DNA and ribosomes
Resembles bacteria; may have evolved through
endosymbiosis

Mitochondria

Outer
membrane
Inter membrane
space
Matrix
Inner membrane
Cristae

Lysosomes
Membrane-enclosed compartments filled
with hydrolytic enzymes used for the
controlled intracellular digestion of
macromolecules.
Contain about 40 types of hydrolytic
enzymes, including proteases,
nucleases, glycosidases, lipases,
phospholipases, phosphatases,
sulfatases.

Lysosome - functions
Phagocytosis
matter

: Destroy engulfed cells or foreign

Autophagy
the cell

: Digest unwanted structures within

Exocytosis
out side cell

: Lysosomic enzymes are secreted

Autolysis : Self digestion of a cell releasing contents

of

Three pathways to degradation

Peroxisomes
Small membrane -bounded organelle
Reactive oxygen species can damage cellular
components they are confined inside the
peroxisomes, preventing cellular damage.
Contain catalase which converts
hydrogen peroxide
water and
oxygen

Cytoskeleton
Filaments
Change shape and move from place to place.
To rearrange internal components as they grow,
divide, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Pulls the chromosomes apart at mitosis and splits the
dividing cell into two.
Drives and guides the intracellular traffic of organelles
Supports the fragile plasma membrane and provides
the mechanical linkages - bear stresses

Cytoskeleton

Visual Summary of Animal

Cells