CHAPTER 4

EUKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

External Structures Internal Structures

Overview of Eukaryotic Cell Structure

Eukaryote: Protozoa, Algae, Fungi larger than prokaryotic cell more complex than prokaryotic cell contains membrane-bound organelles that perform specific functions

Protozoa, Algae, Fungi

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

Eukaryotic External Cell Structures

1. Cillia 2. Flagella 3. Pellicle 4. Cell wall 5. Plasma membrane

1. Cilia
motility 5-20 m long shorter and more numerous than flagella beat with two phases

2. Flagella
motility 100-200 m long longer than cilia eukaryotic flagellum moves like a whip

Ciliated protozoa Oxytricha sp.

Structure of Flagella and Cilia

membrane-bound cylinders ~2m in diameter 9 pairs of microtubule doublets circle around 2 central tubules 9 + 2 arrangement called axoneme basal body at base of flagellum or cilium directs synthesis of flagella and cilia

3. Pellicle
a thin layer supporting plasma membrane in various protozoa not as strong or rigid as cell wall provides characteristic shape to cell

Epidinium caudatum

Pellicle of a mushroom

4. Cell Wall
rigid covering outside plasma membrane
variable compositions in eukaryotes
Algae - ? Diatoms - ?

Fungi - ?

Cellulose cell wall of algae Volvox sp.

Silica shell of diatoms

Chitin & cellulose of fungi

5. Plasma Membrane
almost as similar as prokaryotes Fluid-mosaic structure greater variety of lipids, include phosphoglycerides, sphingolipids and cholesterol contains sterols that adds rigidity to plasma membrane

Plasma Membrane
eucaryotic membranes contain microdomains called lipid rafts

enriched for certain lipids and proteins participate in a variety of cell processes such as cell movement and transduction
(1) is standard lipid bilayer (2) is a lipid raft.

Eukaryotic Cell Internal Structures

Nucleus Endoplasmic Reticulum Golgi Apparatus Mitochondria Chloroplast Ribosome

Lysosome Peroxisome Vacuoles Cytoplasmic matrix Cytoskeleton

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

Nucleus
largest organelle in eucaryotic cell contains genetic material enclosed by nuclear envelope contains chromatin and nucleolus

Nucleus
Chromatin
dense fibrous material within nucleus contains genetic DNA condenses to form chromosomes during cell division mitosis/meiosis (refer Prescotts Microbiology pg. 92-94)

Nuclear envelope
double membrane (inner & outer) structure that surrounds nucleus has nuclear pores pores allow materials to be transported into or out of nucleus

Nucleus
Nucleolus 1 nucleolus per nucleus not membrane-enclosed important in ribosome synthesis
directs synthesis and processing of rRNA directs assembly of rRNA and ribosomal proteins to form ribosomes

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

consists of network of membranous tubules and flattened sacs called cisternae internal compartment of ER = cisternal space

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Two types of ER:
rough ER ribosomes attached, rough texture smooth ER lack of ribosomes, smooth texture

Functions of ER:
major site of cell membrane synthesis transports proteins, lipids, and other materials to Golgi apparatus synthesis of lysosomes

Proteins synthesized by RER-bound ribosomes are inserted into ER membrane or into its lumen for transport elsewhere

Golgi Apparatus
membranous organelle made of cisternae stacked on each other dictyosomes
stacks of cisternae

involves in modification, packaging, and secretion of materials through secretory vesicles

movement of material

trans face

cis face (associated with ER)

cis face differs from trans face in thickness, enzyme content and vesicle formation