CELL STRUCTURE &

FUNCTION
By
Professor Dr. Hosny Fouad

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 What Is a Cell ?
• Organisms are composed of cells.
• Cells are quite small and can only be
seen under the Microscope.
• When was the microscope invented?
• The cell is: The basic unit of life.
• Nothing smaller than a cell is alive.
• Humans are multicellular.

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Light Microscope 3
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 Cells Look Quite Different
• A blood cell, a nerve cell, a cartilage
cell are all different.
• Cells in an organism have certain
parts in common (Animal cell & plant
cell).
• New cells arise from pre-
pre-existing
cells.

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Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
Nerve Cell 8
Cartilage Cell
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 Internal Organization
of Cells

• Electron Microscope allowed

biologists to determine the
internal organization of cells.

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Electron Microscope

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 Cell Components include:
1.
1.Plasma
Plasma membrane
2.
2.The
The Cytoskeleton
3.
3.The
The Nucleus (& Nucleolus)
4.
4.The
The Mitochondrion
5.
5.Lysosomes
Lysosomes
6.
6.Endoplasmic
Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough & Smooth)
7.
7.Ribosomes
Ribosomes

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 1. Plasma Membrane
• Surrounds the cell
• Keeps the cell intact
• Regulates what enters and exits a
cell.
• Is a phospho-
phospho-lipid bilayer with
attached or embedded proteins.
• Selectively permeable (it allows
certain molecules to enter the cell but
not others).
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Phospholipid bilayer

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 What is Phospholipid?
• A Phospholipid (PL) molecule has a
polar head and nonpolar tails.
• The polar head is charged and
hydrophilic (loves water) facing
outward.
• The nonpolar tails are hydrophobic
(hates water) facing inward.
• When PL placed in water form
spherical bilayer.
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 Membrane Structure
• Fluid-
Fluid-mosaic structure.
• Protein molecules can move freely.
• Cholesterol is present to give support
to the membrane.
• Sugar is attached to the outer
surface of some protein (glycoprotein)
and lipid (lipoprotein) molecules.
• Carbohydrate chains are specific to
each cell (blood types)
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 Functions of Proteins in Cell
Membrane
• Some glyco-
glyco-proteins act as receptors
receptors..
• Some proteins form channels
channels..
• Some proteins are enzymes
enzymes..
• Some proteins are carriers for the
passage of molecules through the
membrane.

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 Functions of Plasma Membrane
• Keeps a cell intact.
• Allows certain molecules & ions to enter and
exit the cytoplasm freely (selectively
permeable).
• Small lipid
lipid--soluble molecules
molecules,, e.g. oxygen
and carbon dioxide can pass easily.
easily.
• Water can freely cross the membrane.
• Ions and large molecules cannot cross
without assistance.

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 Mechanisms of Transport
through Cell Membrane
1. Simple Diffusion
2. Facilitated Diffusion
3. Active Transport
4. Endocytosis & Exocytosis

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 a) Simple Diffusion
• Diffusion is a passive way for
molecules to enter or exit a cell
(i.e. no energy is needed).
• Molecules move from the area of
higher concentration to the area of
lower concentration, until they are
equally distributed.

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 b) Facilitated Transport
• Needs a protein carrier.
• Faster than passive diffusion.
• From the side of higher concentration to
the side of lower concentration.
• Does not need energy.
• The protein carrier is called a transporter,
it binds to the molecule, e.g. glucose.
• Diabetes type 2 results when cells lack a
sufficient number of transporters.
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 c) Active Transport
• Occurs against concentration gradient
(i.e. from lower to higher
concentration).
• Requires a protein carrier.
• Needs cellular energy from ATP
ATP..
• Proteins used in the active transport
pumps, Na+/K+ pump
are called pumps, pump..

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 d) Endocytosis & Exocytosis
• During endocytosis a part of the plasma
membrane invaginates to engulf the
molecule.
• The membrane then forms a vesicle inside
the cell.
• Some white blood cells take up pathogens
by endocytosis, the process is called
phagocytosis..
phagocytosis
• Taking up molecules and fluids is called
pinocytosis.

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 Exocytosis
• A vesicle fuses with the plasma
membrane as secretion occurs ,e.g.
insulin secretion.

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 2. Cytoskeleton
• The cytoplasm is criss-
criss-crossed by protein
fibers called cytoskeleton.
• It helps to keep shape of the cell and
assists movement of organelles.
• It consists of: microtubules, actin filaments
and intermediate filaments.
• Microtubules: keep the shape of ell and act
as tracks along which organelles move. They
are made of tubulin.

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 2. Cytoskeleton (Cont.)
• Microtubules form spindle fibers
during cell division, which assist
movement of chromosomes.
• Actin filaments: made of the protein
actin and occurs in cells in which
movement occurs (e.g. microvilli
projecting from certain cells contain
actin).

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 3. The Nucleus
• A large.
• Can be seen with the light
microscope.
• Contains the chromosomes.
• Is the control center of the cell.
• Controls metabolism and structure
of the cell.
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 3. The Nucleus (Cont.)
• Stores genetic information.
• Every cell contains the same genes,
but each type has certain genes
turned on and others turned off.
• Activated DNA (via RNA) specifies
the protein in a cell.
• Proteins determine cell’s structure &
functions (as enzymes are proteins).
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 3. The Nucleus (Cont.)
• Chromatin is coiled in the form of
chromosome just before cell division.
• The nuclear envelope surrounds the
nucleus.
• The nuclear envelope has nuclear
pores to permit passage of proteins
into the nucleus and ribosomes &
mRNA out of the nucleus.
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 4. The Nucleolus
• Nucleolus is present within the
nucleus.
• In the nucleolus, ribosomal RNA
is produced and joins with
proteins to form ribosomes.

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 5. The Ribosomes
• Ribosomes are organelles composed of
proteins and rRNA.
• Protein synthesis occurs at the
ribosomes.

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Ribosomes
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 5. Mitochondria
• Mitochondria (singular, mitochondrion)
are called the powerhouses of he cell.
• Mitochondrion has a double membrane.
• The inner membrane is folded to form
cristae.
• The inner space is called the matrix.

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 5. Mitochondria (Cont.)
• Mitochondria convert the chemical
energy of glucose products into the
chemical energy of ATP molecules.
• Mitochondria use up oxygen and give
off carbon dioxide and water.
• Oxygen in breath enters cells and
then mitochondria.

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 5. Mitochondria (Cont.)
• The matrix contains a gel-
gel-like fluid,
and enzymes of the break down of
glucose products and fatty acids.
• The respiratory chain is located in
the inner membrane and produces
ATP.
• ATP is used by cells for synthesis of
molecules, contraction of muscles,
conduction of nerve impulses.
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 Mitodhondrion

http://www.modares.ac.ir/elearning/Dalimi/Proto/images/Lec
tures/ 42
 6. Endoplasmic Reticulum
(ER)
A.Rough
A. Rough ER
B. Smooth ER

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 A. Rough ER

• Carries ribosomes.
• Synthesis of Proteins

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Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum 45
 B. Smooth ER

• Does not carry ribosomes.

• Lipid synthesis & Drug Metabolism

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Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
(sEPR) 47
 7. The Cytoplasm
• Is the semi-
semi-fluid medium between
the nucleus and the plasma
membrane.
• It contains water, various
molecules and proteins.

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 8. Lysosomes
• Vesicles with digestive enzymes
• Intracellular Digestion

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Golgi Apparatus & Lysosomes 50
 9. Golgi Apparatus
• Membranous Saccules
• Processing, Sorting & Packaging of
proteins.

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 Subcellular Organelles
Name Composition Function
Nucleus Envelope, chromatin Storage of
and nucleolus. Genetic
Information
Nucleolus Chromatin, RNA & Ribosomal
Proteins Formation
Ribosome Protein & RNA in 2 Protein Synthesis
subunits
Rough Carries ribosomes Synthesis of
Endoplasmic Proteins
Reticulum (ER)
Smooth ER No ribosomes Lipid synthesis &
Drug Metabolism 52
 Subcellular Organelles
Name Composition Function
Golgi Membranous Processing, Sorting &
Apparatus Saccules Packaging of proteins
Lysosomes Vesicles with Intracellular
digestive enzymes Digestion
Mitochondrion Inner & outer Cellular Respiration
Membranes
Cytoskeleton Microtubules, Shape of cell &
actin filaments Movement

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 What are the 7
Characteristics of life?
1. Reproduction
2. Response to stimuli.
3. Homeostasis
4. Growth.
5. Development.
6. Take in & use materials from the
environment.
7. Adaptation with the environment.

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CELL METABOLISM

By
Prof Dr Hosny Fouad

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 Cell Metabolism
Definition:
• Means all the chemical reactions
that occur in a cell.
• Metabolic reactions are catalyzed
by enzymes.

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 Cellular Respiration
• Glucose breakdown requires 4
phases:
1) Glycolysis
2) Preparatory reaction
3) The citric acid cycle
4) The electron transport chain

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 Breakdown of Glucose
(Cellular Respiration)

Glucose breakdown to 6 CO2, 6

H2O and energy (ATP) requires 4
phases:

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 1. Glycolysis
a) This reaction occurs in the
cytoplasm.

b) Glucose (a 6-carbon molecule), is

broken down to 2 molecules of
pyruvic acid, 2 NADH2 & 2 ATP
molecules.
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 2. Preparatory Reaction

a) Occurs in the matrix of

mitochondria.

b) Pyruvic acid is converted to 2

molecules of acetyl-
acetyl-CoA, 2 CO2
& 2 NADH2 .
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 3. The Citric Acid Cycle

a) The acetyl group (acetyl-

(acetyl-CoA)
enters the citric acid cycle.
b) As a result of the citric acid
cycle:
4 CO2,2 ATP, 6 NADH2 and 2
FADH2 are produced.
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 4.The Electron Transport Chain

1. Electrons are removed from the

hydrogen atoms (carried by NADH2
and FADH2 coming from the citric acid
cycle) are oxidized by the electron
transport chain by oxygen atom to
form water.
2. ATP molecules and water are formed.

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The 4 phases of complete cellular respiration

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