Tag: cell and cell organelles

The lipid bilayer of a cell membrane is hydrophobic in its interior, allowing small uncharged molecules like gases (CO) to pass freely. Large polar molecules and charged amino acids, such as glutamic acid, cannot easily cross the lipid bilayer without specific transport proteins.

RBC (red blood cell) of the human is the best material for the study of structure of cell membrane. Chemical studies on the RBC cell membrane enabled the scientists to infer the possible structure of plasma membrane.

A typical cell is composed of the plasma membrane (boundary), the cytosol (fluid matrix), and various organelles (functional structures).

The cell membrane acts as a selective barrier that regulates the transport of materials, provides structural integrity, and maintains the internal environment of the cell. All listed functions are primary roles of the plasma membrane.

Plants are autotrophic organisms which manufacture their own food. Plant cells have chlorophyll containing chloroplasts which are involved in the process of photosynthesis. A plant cell is surrounded by cellulosic cell wall which is dead at maturity. Chloroplasts and cellulosic cell wall are characteristics of plant cells only.

Most of the energy is produced in the mitochondria through the process of oxidative phosphorylation during aerobic respiration. Hence, mitochondria is called powerhouse of cell. Energy is also produced through glycolysis and anaerobic fermentation in cytoplasm but major energy production occurs in mitochondria through aerobic respiration. Chloroplasts have green pigment chlorophyll and carry out the process of photosynthesis which results in production of sugars. This sugar forms food for plant themselves and all the heterotrophic organism. Hence, chloroplast are called 'Kitchen of cell'.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts are unique cell organelles in a eukaryotic cell. Both are double membraned, contain DNA, have their own ribosomes and protein synthesizing machinery. They are semi-autonomous entities. The ribosomes of these organelles resemble prokaryotic ribosomes. These characteristics are seen as an evidences supporting the endosymbiotic theory. The theory of endosymbiosis  postulates that chloroplasts and mitochondria are the result of evolution initiated by the endocytosis of bacteria and blue - green algae. According to this theory, blue green algae and bacteria were not digested; they became symbiotic instead. This concept has been expressed by the phrase, 'A Cell within a cell'. 

In a eukaryotic cell, energy transformation reactions majorly occur in cytoplasm, mitochondria and chloroplast. In cytoplasm, the energy is captured and used to produce ATP by substrate level phosphorylation during glycolysis. In mitochondria, the energy is captured and used to produce ATP by oxidative phosphorylation. In chloroplasts, the energy is captured and used to produce ATP by photophosphorylation. Thus, two cell organelles involved in energy transformation reactions are chloroplast and mitochondria.

Both chloroplast and mitochondria were once independent free living organisms and later on became lodged in eukaryotic cells as endosymbionts. This hypothesis is supported by many evidences example both of these organelles are surrounded by double membranes, have their own DNA which is circular like prokaryotic chromosome, have their own ribosomes which are 70S type like prokaryotic ribosomes and are not dependent on nucleus for their multiplication but can increase in number by fission like bacteria.