Sunday, November 30, 2008

Lysosome

Lysosomes are large vesicles formed by the Golgi that  function in the extracellular breakdown of materials. The enzymes within lysosomes could potentially destroy the cell so there is a membrane surrounding it preventing it from doing so. Lysosomes are found only in animal cells.

Electronmicrograph of lysosomes


Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are another organelle that is only found in plant cells. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll molecules which absorb the sun's energy and convert it to chemical energy which can be used to fuel chemical reactions in the cell. 



Cell Wall

The cell wall is the backbone for plant cells. This is not found in animal cells because they have other ways of support as in skeletons and exoskeletons. The cell wall supports and hold together everything in the cell and protects it from foreign objects.


The area in green around the plant cell above is the cell wall.

Nucleolus

Located within the nucleus, the purpose of the nucleolus is ribosome production. It is composed of protein and nucleic acids.


The maroon figure is the nucleolus.

Mitochondrion

The mitochondria are best known as being the powerhouse for a cell. Their function is the site of energy release and ATP production. Mitochondria have a double membrane.


Golgi Apparatus

The Golgi apparatus, or Golgi bodies, are used as vesicles in which proteins from the rough ER are packaged and moved to either lysosomes, the plasma membrane, or for secretion. The Golgi bodies function in plants slightly different because they serve as the site at which the complex polysaccharides of the cell wall are synthesized.


The Golgi apparatus in a plant cell. 

Ribosomes

Ribosomes are what makes the rough ER rough. They are composed of RNA and protein and are where protein synthesis takes place. Ribosomes are also found in the mitochondria and choloroplasts (only found in plants) in eukaryotic cells. 


Ribosomes in a liver cell.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

The rough endoplasmic reticulum are 'rough' because ribosomes, which are needed to carry out protein synthesis, are attached to the surface. Each protein made in the rough ER has a specific function.


This picture shows the rough ER studded with ribosomes.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

The smooth endplasmic reticulum, also know as SER, is involved in various metabloic processes. It is 'smooth' because it does not contain ribosome like the rough ER. It is connected to the nuclear envelope and is known for its storage of calcium irons in muscle cells.


Wonderful picture of the Smooth ER.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Vacuole

Vacuoles are used in both plants and animals for transport and to store nutrients, metabolites, and waste products. There is a membrane surrounding the plant cell vacuole called the tonoplast which is a very active and dynamic membrane. The plant vacuole is naturally bigger than the animal vacuole for the fact that plants need the extra space since they make food through photosynthesis.


Cytoplasm

Located within the cell, cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance that includes all of the organelles of the cell as well as what is needed for cell growth and reproduction. The cytoplasm contains dissolved nutrients and salts, helps dissolve waste products, and is an excellent conductor of electricity.

cytoplasm 
This picture shows various organelles within the cytoplasm.

Nucleus

The nucleus is, of course, the 'brain' of the cell. It controls all the functions of the cell and in it it holds the genetic information that's called chromatin. Also inside the nucleus is the nucleolus, an organelle that synthesizes protein-producing macromolecular assemblies called ribosomes.
The nucleus itself is enclosed in a double-layered membrane called the nuclear envelope. This envelope is filled with holes called nuclear pores that allow specific molecules to pass back and forth between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

The Cell Nucleus


Cell Membrane



The function of a cell membrane in animal cell is to protect the internal cell from unwanted chemicals. It is also used to separate the cell's cytoplasm from the extra cellular membrane. 

The function of a cell membrane in a plant cell is similar to that of an animal cell. The only difference is that the cell membrane of a plant is located within a cell wall whereas the animal cell has no use for a cell wall.