09-29-2012, 08:47 PM
Cell is the tiny and the basic unit of the complex body structure. Group of cells forms tissues and group of tissues evolve into organs. The discovery and research on cell forms the basis for all the drastic development in the field of biotechnology. Like a human body composed of many organs, each cell has several components carrying out specific functions of the cell. Understanding the cell as a whole is significant to all biologists and biotechnologist. In this view, all the organelles of a cell and its functions are discussed.
The various organelles of a cell are cell membrane, nucleus, centrosome/microtubule, Golgi body, Mitochondria, Ribosome, Endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, Lysosome and vacuole. These organelles have their own specific function contributing to the overall function of a cell. The role of each organelle is discussed below.
The Cell membrane: The protective covering of a cell, semi permeable in nature manages the substances entering the cell by allowing some substances into the cell and restricting others. Some of the diseases like Hyaline membrane disease, Alzheimer disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy disrupts the cell membrane and causes dysfunction of the membrane.
The Nucleus: The nucleus of a cell holds the DNA, the genetic material. The nucleus has nucleolus where the rRNA is synthesized and also the nucleus has its own covering called the nuclear membrane. The complete understanding and research on the nucleus of a cell have unfolded the mystery behind many genetic disorders.
Cytoplasm: The area between the cell nucleus and the cell membrane where the other organelles are present.
Centrosome: Centrosome, also called as microtubule based on its structure, comprising of thick centre surrounded by projected tubules. This is situated close to the nucleus and aids in the reproduction of the cell by dividing (mitosis). The dysfunction of the components of centrosome is associated with cancer and disease like microcephaly. The absence or dysfunction of the tubules/cilia of the centrosome contributes to ciliopathies which categorizes various complex diseases.
Lysosomes: Lysosomes are called by various names like ‘stomach of the cell’, ‘recycling centre of the cell’ and ‘suicidal bags’ because of its unique function of cellular digestion and cellular substrate management. Lysosomal dysfunction causes various diseases classified under Lysosomal storage disorder.
Golgi body: Also called as the Golgi apparatus, synthesizes a membrane that surrounds the lysosome. This organelle of the cell helps in exporting the proteins and carbohydrates from the cell by packing them into membrane bound vesicles. The golgi body linked disorder is a group of congenital disorder of glycosylation.
Mitochondria: Generally called as the power house of the cell which generates energy for the cell by converting glucose into adenosine tri phosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, ataxia, lactic acidosis, strokes are some of the diseases due to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Ribosome: Ribosomes, the granular particles which are either freely dispersed in the cytoplasm or attached to endoplasmic reticulum is rich in RNA and acts as the protein synthesis site. Diamond-Black fan anemia, Cartilage Hair hypoplasia, Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, Dyskeratosis are some of the diseases associated with ribosomes.
Endoplasmic Reticulum(ER): Endoplasmic reticulum extends from the outer nuclear membrane in the cytoplasm. They are classified as rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The rough ER have ribosomes attached to it and whereas smooth ER has no ribosomes. The rough ER is involved in the production of various proteins whereas the smooth ER manufactures lipids and other membrane proteins and also aids the transport of the produced substances to other cytoplasmic constituents like lysosome, Golgi apparatus and cell membrane.
The hyper or hypo functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum imposes a stress on the endoplasmic reticulum. This endoplasmic stress leads to various diseases like metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, neuro degenerative diseases and cancer.
Vacuole: Vacuole can be called as the storage unit of a cell composed of the entire digestive and digested material of a cell.
Thus the various organelles of a cell, its role in cellular function on the whole are discussed. The cell, organelles of a cell, properties of cell, types of cells and their functions, are all discussed under one roof called cell biology. Good knowledge on the subject of cell biology is significant in understanding other fields like molecular biology, biochemistry, clinical biochemistry, genetics, animal cell culture and animal cell biotechnology.
The various organelles of a cell are cell membrane, nucleus, centrosome/microtubule, Golgi body, Mitochondria, Ribosome, Endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, Lysosome and vacuole. These organelles have their own specific function contributing to the overall function of a cell. The role of each organelle is discussed below.
The Cell membrane: The protective covering of a cell, semi permeable in nature manages the substances entering the cell by allowing some substances into the cell and restricting others. Some of the diseases like Hyaline membrane disease, Alzheimer disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy disrupts the cell membrane and causes dysfunction of the membrane.
The Nucleus: The nucleus of a cell holds the DNA, the genetic material. The nucleus has nucleolus where the rRNA is synthesized and also the nucleus has its own covering called the nuclear membrane. The complete understanding and research on the nucleus of a cell have unfolded the mystery behind many genetic disorders.
Cytoplasm: The area between the cell nucleus and the cell membrane where the other organelles are present.
Centrosome: Centrosome, also called as microtubule based on its structure, comprising of thick centre surrounded by projected tubules. This is situated close to the nucleus and aids in the reproduction of the cell by dividing (mitosis). The dysfunction of the components of centrosome is associated with cancer and disease like microcephaly. The absence or dysfunction of the tubules/cilia of the centrosome contributes to ciliopathies which categorizes various complex diseases.
Lysosomes: Lysosomes are called by various names like ‘stomach of the cell’, ‘recycling centre of the cell’ and ‘suicidal bags’ because of its unique function of cellular digestion and cellular substrate management. Lysosomal dysfunction causes various diseases classified under Lysosomal storage disorder.
Golgi body: Also called as the Golgi apparatus, synthesizes a membrane that surrounds the lysosome. This organelle of the cell helps in exporting the proteins and carbohydrates from the cell by packing them into membrane bound vesicles. The golgi body linked disorder is a group of congenital disorder of glycosylation.
Mitochondria: Generally called as the power house of the cell which generates energy for the cell by converting glucose into adenosine tri phosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, ataxia, lactic acidosis, strokes are some of the diseases due to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Ribosome: Ribosomes, the granular particles which are either freely dispersed in the cytoplasm or attached to endoplasmic reticulum is rich in RNA and acts as the protein synthesis site. Diamond-Black fan anemia, Cartilage Hair hypoplasia, Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, Dyskeratosis are some of the diseases associated with ribosomes.
Endoplasmic Reticulum(ER): Endoplasmic reticulum extends from the outer nuclear membrane in the cytoplasm. They are classified as rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The rough ER have ribosomes attached to it and whereas smooth ER has no ribosomes. The rough ER is involved in the production of various proteins whereas the smooth ER manufactures lipids and other membrane proteins and also aids the transport of the produced substances to other cytoplasmic constituents like lysosome, Golgi apparatus and cell membrane.
The hyper or hypo functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum imposes a stress on the endoplasmic reticulum. This endoplasmic stress leads to various diseases like metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, neuro degenerative diseases and cancer.
Vacuole: Vacuole can be called as the storage unit of a cell composed of the entire digestive and digested material of a cell.
Thus the various organelles of a cell, its role in cellular function on the whole are discussed. The cell, organelles of a cell, properties of cell, types of cells and their functions, are all discussed under one roof called cell biology. Good knowledge on the subject of cell biology is significant in understanding other fields like molecular biology, biochemistry, clinical biochemistry, genetics, animal cell culture and animal cell biotechnology.
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