ORGANELLE STRUCTURE
Cell surface Trilaminar appearance (3 layers), a pale
membrane layer (hydrophobic) sandwiched
(Plasma between 2 dark layers (hydrophilic)
membrane)
Nucleus -Largest cell organelle.
- Sorrounded by nuclear envelope
(2 membranes):
• Outer layer is continuous with ER
• Has small openings called
NUCLEAR PORES (allow and
control exchange between the
nucleus and cytoplasm)
Entering substances = proteins,
ATP, hormones
Leaving substances = mRNA,
ribosomes.
• Chromatin: loosely coiled
chromosomes that contain DNA
organized into functional units =
GENES (control the activities of
the cell and inheritance)
Endoplasmic -Consist of a system (continuous) called
reticulum (ER) “Cisternae”: flattened membrane-bound
sacs, which lies continuously with the
outer membrane of the nuclear
envelope
Ribosomes -Very small organelles made of RNA and
protein.
- Consist of 2 subunits (small and large).
- Also found in chloroplasts and
mitochondria.
FUNCTION
A partially permeable membrane
controlling exchange between the
cell and its environment.
❖ Control what enters and
leaves the cell
-controls all the cell's activities and
cell division.
- Nucleolus (darkly stained area)
inside the nucleus makes ribosomes
using the info in its own DNA.
❖ Before cell division, the
nucleus divides so that each
new cell will have its own
nucleus
• Rough ER: if ribosomes are
found attached. It transports
proteins made by the
ribosomes.
• Smooth ER: without
ribosomes. It produces lipids
(cholesterol) and steroids
(reproductive hormones:
testosterone, oestrogen)
Both are found spreading cytoplasm
of eukaryotic cells
-Protein synthesis.
- Attached to the RER or free in the
cytoplasm.
❖ Polyribosomes (collection of
ribosomes that string along
the mRNA)
Golgi Apparatus -Stack (discontinuous) of flattened
membrane bound sacs (“cisterna”)
- The stack is formed as the vesicles bud
off from the ER; are further broken
down to form Golgi vesicles.
Vacuole -Large, permanent, central
- Sorrounded by a single
membrane=Tonoplast (controls
exchange between cytoplasm and
vacuole).
- Fluid inside a vacuole (solution of
mineral salts, sugars, O2, CO2,
pigments, enzymes and waste products)
Lysosomes Spherical sacs, Sorrounded by a single
membrane with no internal structure.
Contain digestive (hydrolytic) enzymes:
Lysozyme
Mitochondria - Sorrounded by an envelope of two
membranes. The inner one is folded to
form a “Cristae”(project into the interior - involved in the synthesis of lipids.
solution called MATRIX).
- Contains ribosomes (70S) and circular
DNA molecules.
Centrioles -Lie close together at right angles to
each other in a region called
CENTROSOME.
- ONLY found in animal cells.
-They are hollow cylinder formed of
short microtubules (Tiny circular tubes
made of protein=tubulin)
Cell wall -Outside the cell surface membrane.
- Rigid thanks to the fibres and cellulose. - Prevents the cell from bursting
- May be reinforced with extra cellulose when water enters of osmosis
and hard material (lignin) for more
strength
- Freely permeable
- Plasmodesmata (plasmodesma)=fine
strands of cytoplasm which pass
through the walls of neighbouring cells.
-Internal processing and transport.
- Processed proteins from the ER will
be transported to other parts of the
cell or to the cell surface membrane
for Secretion.
- Makes structures like Lysosomes.
-Help to regulate the osmotic
properties of cells.
- Pigments located in vacuole give
colours to the different flower parts.
Responsible for the breakdown
(digestion) of the unwanted
structures (old organelles) and digest
bacteria (taken into the cell by
phagocytosis)
- Carry out aerobic respiration
(producing ATP)
- Krebs cycle (Matrix)
- oxidative phosphorylation and
electron transport (Cristae)
- Act as MCTOCs at the bases of cilia
and flagella and known as basal
bodies.
- the microtubules are used to grow
the spindle fibres for nuclear division.
- Gives the cell a definite shape
Chloroplasts -Large organelle
- Sorrounded by an envelope of 2
membranes.
- Only found in plant cells.
- Contains STROMA (contains many
paired membranes called
Thylakoid=form stacks called grana)
- The grana contains chlorophyll
(absorbs energy from sunlight)
- Stroma may:
• Store starch
• Contain ribosome (70S), circular
DNA and lipid droplets.
-Carry out Photosynthesis (produces
sugars from CO2 and H2O using light
energy trapped in chlorophyll).
- The light dependent reactions and
photophosphorylation (Thylakoids
membranes)
- The light independent
reactions=Calvin Cycle (Stroma)