The Cell

Parts of a Typical Cell

PLASMA MEMBRANE
forms the cells flexible outer surface,
separating the cells internal
environment from the external
environment
Semi permeable barrier: helps
establish and maintain the appropriate
environment for normal cellular
activities.
Structure of the Plasma Membrane
Fluid mosaic model
The molecular arrangement of the
plasma membrane resembles a
continually moving sea of fluid lips
that contains a mosaic of many
different proteins
The Lipid Bilayer:
Two back to back layers made up of
three types of lipid molecules
Phospholipids (75%)
Lipids that contain phosphorous
Amphipathic
Polar (Hydrophilic)
head
Phosphate-containing
Faces outward
Non Polar (Hydrophobic)
tail
Two long fatty acid
Points toward one another
Cholesterol (20%)
Steroid with an attached hydroxyl
(OH) group
Interspersed among the other
lipids in both layers of the
membrane
Weakly amphipathic
Polar
Hydroxyl
Forms hydrogen bonds with
the polar heads of
phospholipids and
glycolipids
Non Polar
Stiff steroid rings and
hydrocarbon tails
Fit among the fatty acid
tails of the phospholipids
and glycolipids
Glycolipids (5%)

Lipids with attached carbohydrate

groups
Appear only in the membrane
layer that faces the extracellular
fluid one reason the two sides of
the bilayer are asymmetric
Amphipathic
Polar
Carbohydrate group
head
Non Polar
Fatty acid (lipid part)
tail
Classification of Membrane Proteins
Integral Proteins
Firmly attached to lipid bilayer
membrane
Extend into or through the lipid
bilayer among the fatty acid tails
Amphipathic
Transmembrane proteins span
the entire lipid bilayer and
protrude into both the cytosol and
extracellular fluid
Peripheral Proteins
Not as firmly embedded in the
membrane
Attached to polar heads of
membrane lipids or to integral
proteins
Glycoproteins proteins with
carbohydrate(oligosaccharides)
groups
Glycocalyx
Carbohydrate portion of
glycolipids and glycoproteins
Acts like a molecular signature
that enables cell to recognize
one another
Enables cell to adhere to one
another in some tissues
Protects cells from being
digested by enzymes in the
extracellular fluid.
Hydrophilic attract a film of
fluid to the surface of many
cells
Functions of Membrane Proteins
Ion Channels

Pores or holes that specific ions

can flow through to get into or out
of the cell.
Carriers Transporters
Selectively moving a polar
substances or ion from one side of
the membrane to the other
Receptors
Serve as cellular recognition sites
Recognizes and binds a specific
type of molecule
Ligand a specific molecule
that binds to a receptor

Enzymes
Catalyze specific chemical
reactions at the inside or outside
surface of the cell
Linkers
Anchor proteins in the plasma
membranes of neighboring cells to
one another or to protein
filaments inside and outside the
cell
Identity Markers
Glycocalyx
Enables cell to recognize other
cells of the same kind during
tissue formation
Enables cell to recognize and
respond to potentially dangerous
foreign cells
Membrane Permeability
Selectively Permeable
Permits some substances to pass
more readily than others
Permeable non-polar, uncharged
molecules
Ex. Oxygen, carbon dioxide,
steroids
Impermeable ions and large,
uncharged polar molecules
Ex. Glucose
CYTOPLASM
Consists of all the cellular contents
between the plasma membrane and the
nucleus
Two Components
Cytosol (pH 7)
Intracellular fluid
55% of total cell volume
Site of many cellular reactions
Consists of:

75% - 90% water

Ions, glucose, amino acids,
aggregates of organic molecules
Cytoskeleton
Network of protein filaments that
extend throughout the cytosol
Three Types
Microfilaments
Thinnest elements of the
cytoskeleton
Composed of the proteins
actin and myosin
Help generate movement
and provide mechanical
support
Microvilli microscopic
finger-like projections of the
plasma membrane; greatly
increase surface area for
absorption

Intermediate Filaments
Composed of several
different proteins which are
exceptionally strong
Found in parts of the cells
subject to mechanical
stress
Help stabilize the position
of organelles
Microtubules
Long, unbranched hollow
tubes
Composed mainly of tubulin
Grow outward from the
centrosome
Helps determine cell shape
Function in the movement
of organelles
Help form specialized cell
projections
o Ex. Cilia, flagella
Organelles
Specialized structures within the cell
that have characteristic shapes
Perform specific functions in cellular
growth, maintenance and
reproduction
Centrosome
Two Components:
2 Centrioles
Cylindrical structures, each
composed of nine clusters

of three microtubules
arranged in a circular
pattern
Pericentriolar material
contains hundreds of ringshaped complexes
composed of protein tubulin
organizing centers for
growth of the mitotic
spindle
Function:
Build microtubules
Build mitotic spindles
Cilia and Flagella
Motile projection of cell surface
Cilia
Hair like projections
Contains a core of 20
microtubules
Each cilium is anchored to a
basal body similar in
structure to a centriole
Oar-like pattern of beating
Coordinated movement of
many cilia on the surface of a
cell causes the stead
movement of fluid
Flagella
Similar in structure to cilia but
are typically much longer
Moves an entire cell
Ex. Sperm cell
Ribosomes
Site of protein synthesis
High amount of proteins and
ribosomal ribonucleic acid
Two subunits one about half the
size of the other; made separately
Two Types:
Attached
Located outside the surface
of the nucleus or the
endoplasmic reticulum
Synthesize proteins
destined for specific
organelles
Free
Unattached
Synthesize proteins used in
the cytosol
Endoplasmic Reticulum

Network of membranes in the

form of flattened sacs or tubules
Extends from the nuclear
envelope throughout the
cytoplasm
Rough ER
Studded with ribosomes
Process and sort proteins
coming from ribosomes
Smooth ER
Synthesize fatty acids and
steroids
detox
Golgi complex
Cuplike membranous sacs
Consists of 3 to 20 cisternae
small, flattened membranous sacs
with bulging edges
Three Regions:
Entry/Cis Face convex
Exit/Trans Face concave
Medial Cisternae
Modify, sort and package proteins
into vesicles received from RER
Forms secretory membrane,
transport vesicles
Maturation of Protein:
Proteins arrive from RER coated by a
piece of the ER membrane, which
eventually buds from the membrane to
form transport vesicles
Move toward cis face
Fusion of transport vesicles
create cis face of the golgi
complex
Move to medial cisternae
modifies proteins to form
glycoproteins, glycolipids and
glycoproteins
Specific enzymes move back
toward cis face
Modified proteins proceed to
trans face
Products are further modified
and are sorted and packaged
Some processed proteins are
stored in secretory vesicles to
be delivered to the plasma
membrane
Other processed proteins leave
the trans face in membrane
vesicles that deliver their
contents to the plasma
membrane

The rest leave the trans face in

transport vesicles that will
carry the proteins to another
cellular destination
Lysosomes
Membrane-enclosed vesicles that
form from the Golgi complex.
Contain 60 kinds of powerful
digestive and hydrolytic enzymes
that can break down a wide
variety of molecules
Engulfs another organelle, digest
it, and return the digested
components to the cytosol to
reuse
Autophagy
Process by which entire wornout organelles are digested
The organelle to be digested is
enclosed by an
autophagosome
Involved in cellular
differentiation, control of
growth, tissue remodeling,
adaptation to adverse
environment and cell defense
Autolysis
Responsible for tissue
deterioration
Peroxisomes
Also called microbodies
Contain several oxidases
enzymes that can oxidize various
organic substances
Abundant in the liver for
detoxification of alcohol
Contain the enzyme catalase,
which decomposes H2O2, and
enzymes that destroy superoxide
Self-replicating form from
preexisting ones by enlarging and
dividing
Mitochondria
Generate ATP through aerobic
respiration
powerhouses of the cell
Consists of an outer mitochondrial
membrane and an inner
mitochondrial membrane
Mitochondrial cristae: folds
Mitochondrial matrix: fluidfilled cavity

Plays a part of apoptosis

genetically programmed death of
cell
NUCLEUS
Spherical or oval-shaped structure
Most prominent feature of a cell
Structure of a Nucleus
Nuclear membrane
Double membrane that separates the
nucleus from the cytoplasm
Consists of two lipid bilayers and
continuous with rough ER
Nuclear Pores
Openings that extend through the
nuclear envelope
Control the movement of substances
between the nucleus and cytoplasm
Nucleoli
Spherical bodies that function in
producing ribosomes
Cluster of protein, DNA, and RNA
Sites of synthesis and assembly for
rRNA and proteins into ribosomal
units
Prominent in cells that synthesize
large amounts of protein
Disperse and disappear during cell
division and reorganize once new
cells are formed
Genes
Control cellular structure
Direct cellular activities
Arranged along chromosomes
Long molecule of DNA that is
coiled together with several
proteins
Composed of chromatin
Diffuse granular mass
Composed of nucleosome
which consists of double
stranded DNA wrapped around
a core of eight proteins called
histones
help organize in coiling and
folding of DNA
with linker DNA, which holds
the adjacent nucleosomes
together
Chromatin fibers histone that
promotes coiling of nucleosomes
into a larger diameter
Chromatids
Genome total genetic information
carried in a cell