The Cell (Biology)
The Cell (Biology)
The Cell (Biology)
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural,
functional and biological unit of all
known living organisms. It is the
smallest unit of life that is classified as
a living thing (except virus, which
consists only of DNA/RNA covered by
protein and lipids), and is often called
the building block of life.
It consists of a protoplasm enclosed
within a membrane, which contains
many biomolecules such as proteins
and nucleic acids. [1] Organisms can be
classified as unicellular (consisting of a
single cell; including most bacteria) or
multicellular (including plants and
animals).
Cell (biology)
Anatomy
There are two types of cells: Eukaryote and prokaryote. Prokaryotic cells are usually independent, while eukaryotic
cells can either exist as a single celled organism or be found in multicellular organisms.
bacteria, archaea
[]
~ 15 m
Ribosomes
Eukaryotes
50S+30S
Cell movement
flagella and cilia containing microtubules; lamellipodia and filopodia containing actin
Mitochondria
none
Chloroplasts
none
Organization
Cell division
Prokaryotic cells
The prokaryote cell is simpler, and
therefore smaller, than a eukaryote
cell, lacking a nucleus and most of the
other organelles of eukaryotes. There
are two kinds of prokaryotes: bacteria
and archaea; these share a similar
structure.
The nuclear material of a prokaryotic
cell consists of a single chromosome
that is in direct contact with the
cytoplasm. Here, the undefined nuclear
region in the cytoplasm is called the
nucleoid.
A prokaryotic cell
architectural regions:
has
three
Cell (biology)
Enclosing the cell is the cell envelope generally consisting of a cell wall covering a plasma membrane though
some bacteria also have a further covering layer called a capsule. The envelope gives rigidity to the cell and
separates the interior of the cell from its environment, serving as a protective filter. Though most prokaryotes
have a cell wall, there are exceptions such as Mycoplasma (bacteria) and Thermoplasma (archaea). The cell wall
consists of peptidoglycan in bacteria, and acts as an additional barrier against exterior forces. It also prevents the
cell from expanding and finally bursting (cytolysis) from osmotic pressure against a hypotonic environment.
Some eukaryote cells (plant cells and fungal cells) also have a cell wall.
Inside the cell is the cytoplasmic region that contains the cell genome (DNA) and ribosomes and various sorts of
inclusions. A prokaryotic chromosome is usually a circular molecule (an exception is that of the bacterium
Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease).[7] Though not forming a nucleus, the DNA is condensed in a
nucleoid. Prokaryotes can carry extrachromosomal DNA elements called plasmids, which are usually circular.
Plasmids enable additional functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
Eukaryotic cells
Plants, animals, fungi, slime moulds, protozoa, and algae are all eukaryotic. These cells are about 15 times wider
than a typical prokaryote and can be as much as 1000 times greater in volume. The major difference between
prokaryotes and eukaryotes is that eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound compartments in which specific
metabolic activities take place. Most important among these is a cell nucleus, a membrane-delineated compartment
that houses the eukaryotic cell's DNA. This nucleus gives the eukaryote its name, which means "true nucleus." Other
differences include:
The plasma membrane resembles that of prokaryotes in function, with minor differences in the setup. Cell walls
may or may not be present.
The eukaryotic DNA is organized in one or more linear molecules, called chromosomes, which are associated
with histone proteins. All chromosomal DNA is stored in the cell nucleus, separated from the cytoplasm by a
membrane. Some eukaryotic organelles such as mitochondria also contain some DNA.
Many eukaryotic cells are ciliated with primary cilia. Primary cilia play important roles in chemosensation,
mechanosensation, and thermosensation. Cilia may thus be "viewed as sensory cellular antennae that coordinate a
large number of cellular signaling pathways, sometimes coupling the signaling to ciliary motility or alternatively
to cell division and differentiation."[]
Eukaryotes can move using motile cilia or flagella. The flagella are more complex than those of prokaryotes.
Cell (biology)
Nucleus
Nucleus
Centrioles
Subcellular components
All cells, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic, have a membrane that envelops the cell, separates its interior from its
environment, regulates what moves in and out (selectively permeable), and maintains the electric potential of the
cell. Inside the membrane, a salty cytoplasm takes up most of the cell volume. All cells (except red blood cells which
lack a cell nucleus and most organelles to accommodate maximum space for hemoglobin) possess DNA, the
hereditary material of genes, and RNA, containing the information necessary to build various proteins such as
enzymes, the cell's primary machinery. There are also other kinds of biomolecules in cells. This article lists these
primary components of the cell, then briefly describe their function.
Membrane
The cytoplasm of a cell is surrounded by a cell membrane or plasma membrane. The plasma membrane in plants and
prokaryotes is usually covered by a cell wall. This membrane serves to separate and protect a cell from its
surrounding environment and is made mostly from a double layer of lipids (hydrophobic fat-like molecules) and
hydrophilic phosphorus molecules. Hence, the layer is called a phospholipid bilayer, or sometimes a fluid mosaic
membrane. Embedded within this membrane is a variety of protein molecules that act as channels and pumps that
move different molecules into and out of the cell. The membrane is said to be 'semi-permeable', in that it can either
let a substance (molecule or ion) pass through freely, pass through to a limited extent or not pass through at all. Cell
surface membranes also contain receptor proteins that allow cells to detect external signaling molecules such as
hormones.
Cell (biology)
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton acts to organize and maintain the
cell's shape; anchors organelles in place; helps during
endocytosis, the uptake of external materials by a cell,
and cytokinesis, the separation of daughter cells after
cell division; and moves parts of the cell in processes of
growth and mobility. The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is
composed of microfilaments, intermediate filaments
and microtubules. There are a great number of proteins
associated with them, each controlling a cell's structure
by directing, bundling, and aligning filaments. The
prokaryotic cytoskeleton is less well-studied but is
involved in the maintenance of cell shape, polarity and
cytokinesis.[8]
Genetic material
Organelles
The human body contains many different organs, such as the heart, lung, and kidney, with each organ performing a
different function. Cells also have a set of "little organs," called organelles, that are adapted and/or specialized for
carrying out one or more vital functions. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells have organelles but organelles in
eukaryotes are generally more complex and may be membrane bound.
There are several types of organelles in a cell. Some (such as the nucleus and golgi apparatus) are typically solitary,
while others (such as mitochondria, peroxisomes and lysosomes) can be numerous (hundreds to thousands). The
cytosol is the gelatinous fluid that fills the cell and surrounds the organelles.
Cell (biology)
Mitochondria and Chloroplasts eukaryotes only - the power generators: Mitochondria are self-replicating
organelles that occur in various numbers, shapes, and sizes in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria
play a critical role in generating energy in the eukaryotic cell. Mitochondria generate the cell's energy by
oxidative phosphorylation, using oxygen to release energy stored in cellular nutrients (typically pertaining to
glucose) to generate ATP. Mitochondria multiply by splitting in two. Respiration occurs in the cell mitochondria.
Chloroplasts can only be found in plants and algae, and they capture the sun's energy to make ATP.
Endoplasmic reticulum eukaryotes only: The endoplasmic
reticulum (ER) is the transport network for molecules targeted for
certain modifications and specific destinations, as compared to
molecules that float freely in the cytoplasm. The ER has two forms:
the rough ER, which has ribosomes on its surface and secretes
proteins into the cytoplasm, and the smooth ER, which lacks them.
Smooth ER plays a role in calcium sequestration and release. (See
Endoplasmic reticulum)
Golgi apparatus eukaryotes only : The primary function of the
Golgi apparatus is to process and package the macromolecules such
as proteins and lipids that are synthesized by the cell. (See Golgi
apparatus)
Diagram of an endomembrane system
Ribosomes: The ribosome is a large complex of RNA and protein
molecules. They each consist of two subunits, and act as an
assembly line where RNA from the nucleus is used to synthesise proteins from amino acids. Ribosomes can be
found either floating freely or bound to a membrane (the rough endoplasmatic reticulum in eukaryotes, or the cell
membrane in prokaryotes).[9]
Lysosomes and Peroxisomes eukaryotes only: Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes (acid hydrolases). They
digest excess or worn-out organelles, food particles, and engulfed viruses or bacteria. Peroxisomes have enzymes
that rid the cell of toxic peroxides. The cell could not house these destructive enzymes if they were not contained
in a membrane-bound system. (See Lysosome and Peroxisome)
Centrosome the cytoskeleton organiser: The centrosome produces the microtubules of a cell a key
component of the cytoskeleton. It directs the transport through the ER and the Golgi apparatus. Centrosomes are
composed of two centrioles, which separate during cell division and help in the formation of the mitotic spindle.
A single centrosome is present in the animal cells. They are also found in some fungi and algae cells. (See
Centrosome)
Cell (biology)
Vacuoles: Vacuoles store food and waste. Some vacuoles store extra water. They are often described as liquid
filled space and are surrounded by a membrane. Some cells, most notably Amoeba, have contractile vacuoles,
which can pump water out of the cell if there is too much water. The vacuoles of eukaryotic cells are usually
larger in those of plants than animals. (See Vacuole)
Cell wall
Many types of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell have a cell wall. The cell wall acts to protect the cell mechanically
and chemically from its environment, and is an additional layer of protection to the cell membrane. Different types
of cell have cell walls made up of different materials; plant cell walls are primarily made up of pectin, fungi cell
walls are made up of chitin and bacteria cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan.
Prokaryotic
Capsule
A gelatinous capsule is present in some bacteria outside the cell membrane and cell wall. The capsule may be
polysaccharide as in pneumococci, meningococci or polypeptide as Bacillus anthracis or hyaluronic acid as in
streptococci. (See Bacterial capsule.) Capsules are not marked by normal staining protocols and can be detected by
special stain.[citation needed]
Flagella
Flagella are organelles for cellular mobility. The bacterial flagellum stretches from cytoplasm through the cell
membrane(s) and extrudes through the cell wall. They are long and thick thread-like appendages, protein in nature.
Are most commonly found in bacteria cells but are found in animal cells as well.
Fimbriae (pili)
They are short and thin hair like filaments, formed of protein called pilin (antigenic). Fimbriae are responsible for
attachment of bacteria to specific receptors of human cell (adherence). There are special types of pili called (sex pili)
involved in conjunction. (See Pilus.)
Cell (biology)
The second pathway, called the Krebs cycle, or citric acid cycle, occurs inside the mitochondria and can generate
enough ATP to run all the cell functions. (See Citric acid cycle.)
Self-replication
Cell division involves a single cell (called a mother cell) dividing into two daughter
cells. This leads to growth in multicellular organisms (the growth of tissue) and to
procreation (vegetative reproduction) in unicellular organisms.
Prokaryotic cells divide by binary fission. Eukaryotic cells usually undergo a process of
nuclear division, called mitosis, followed by division of the cell, called cytokinesis. A
diploid cell may also undergo meiosis to produce haploid cells, usually four. Haploid
cells serve as gametes in multicellular organisms, fusing to form new diploid cells.
DNA replication, or the process of duplicating a cell's genome, always happens when a
cell divides through mitosis or binary fission.
In meiosis, the DNA is replicated only once, while the cell divides twice. DNA
replication only occurs before meiosis I. DNA replication does not occur when the cells
divide the second time, in meiosis II.[10] Replication, like all cellular activities, requires
specialized proteins for carrying out the job.
Protein synthesis
Cells are capable of synthesizing new proteins, which are essential for the modulation
and maintenance of cellular activities. This process involves the formation of new
protein molecules from amino acid building blocks based on information encoded in
DNA/RNA. Protein synthesis generally consists of two major steps: transcription and
translation.
Transcription is the process where genetic information in DNA is used to produce a
complementary RNA strand. This RNA strand is then processed to give messenger RNA
(mRNA), which is free to migrate through the cell. mRNA molecules bind to
protein-RNA complexes called ribosomes located in the cytosol, where they are
translated into polypeptide sequences. The ribosome mediates the formation of a
polypeptide sequence based on the mRNA sequence. The mRNA sequence directly
relates to the polypeptide sequence by binding to transfer RNA (tRNA) adapter
molecules in binding pockets within the ribosome. The new polypeptide then folds into a
functional three-dimensional protein molecule.
An overview of protein
synthesis.Within the
nucleus of the cell (light
blue), genes (DNA, dark
blue) are transcribed into
RNA. This RNA is then
subject to
post-transcriptional
modification and control,
resulting in a mature
mRNA (red) that is then
transported out of the
nucleus and into the
cytoplasm (peach), where
it undergoes translation
into a protein. mRNA is
translated by ribosomes
(purple) that match the
three-base codons of the
mRNA to the three-base
anti-codons of the
appropriate tRNA. Newly
synthesized proteins
(black) are often further
modified, such as by
binding to an effector
molecule (orange), to
become fully active.
Movement or motility
Cells can move during many processes: such as wound healing, the immune response and cancer metastasis. For
wound healing to occur, white blood cells and cells that ingest bacteria move to the wound site to kill the
microorganisms that cause infection.
At the same time fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) move there to remodel damaged structures. In the case of tumor
development, cells from a primary tumor move away and spread to other parts of the body. Cell motility involves
many receptors, crosslinking, bundling, binding, adhesion, motor and other proteins.[11] The process is divided into
three steps protrusion of the leading edge of the cell, adhesion of the leading edge and de-adhesion at the cell body
Cell (biology)
and rear, and cytoskeletal contraction to pull the cell forward. Each step is driven by physical forces generated by
unique segments of the cytoskeleton.[12][13]
Origins
The origin of cells has to do with the origin of life, which began the history of life on Earth.
Cell (biology)
History of research
16321723: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek teaches himself to make lenses, constructs simple microscopes and draws
protozoa, such as Vorticella from rain water, and bacteria from his own mouth.
1665: Robert Hooke discovers cells in cork, then in living plant tissue using an early compound microscope.[6]
1839: Theodor Schwann and Matthias Jakob Schleiden elucidate the principle that plants and animals are made of
cells, concluding that cells are a common unit of structure and development, and thus founding the cell theory.
1855: Rudolf Virchow states that cells always emerge from cell divisions (omnis cellula ex cellula).
1859: The belief that life forms can occur spontaneously (generatio spontanea) is contradicted by Louis Pasteur
(18221895) (although Francesco Redi had performed an experiment in 1668 that suggested the same
conclusion).
1931: Ernst Ruska builds first transmission electron microscope (TEM) at the University of Berlin. By 1935, he
has built an EM with twice the resolution of a light microscope, revealing previously unresolvable organelles.
1953: Watson and Crick made their first announcement on the double-helix structure for DNA on February 28.
1981: Lynn Margulis published Symbiosis in Cell Evolution detailing the endosymbiotic theory.
References
[1] Cell Movements and the Shaping of the Vertebrate Body (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ entrez/ query. fcgi?cmd=Search& db=books&
doptcmdl=GenBookHL& term=Cell+ Movements+ and+ the+ Shaping+ of+ the+ Vertebrate+ Body+ AND+ mboc4[book]+ AND+
374635[uid]& rid=mboc4. section. 3919) in Chapter 21 of Molecular Biology of the Cell (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ entrez/ query.
fcgi?cmd=Search& db=books& doptcmdl=GenBookHL& term=cell+ biology+ AND+ mboc4[book]+ AND+ 373693[uid]& rid=mboc4)
fourth edition, edited by Bruce Alberts (2002) published by Garland Science.
The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos. It is also common to describe small
molecules such as amino acids as " molecular building blocks (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ entrez/ query. fcgi?cmd=Search&
db=books& doptcmdl=GenBookHL& term="all+ cells"+ AND+ mboc4[book]+ AND+ 372023[uid]& rid=mboc4. section. 4#23)".
[6] "... I could exceedingly plainly perceive it to be all perforated and porous, much like a Honey-comb, but that the pores of it were not regular
[..] these pores, or cells, [..] were indeed the first microscopical pores I ever saw, and perhaps, that were ever seen, for I had not met with any
Writer or Person, that had made any mention of them before this. . ." Hooke describing his observations on a thin slice of cork. Robert
Hooke (http:/ / www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/ history/ hooke. html)
[7] European Bioinformatics Institute, Karyn's Genomes: Borrelia burgdorferi (http:/ / www. ebi. ac. uk/ 2can/ genomes/ bacteria/
Borrelia_burgdorferi. html), part of 2can on the EBI-EMBL database. Retrieved 5 August 2012
[12] Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J. et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4e. Garland Science. 2002
[13] Ananthakrishnan R, Ehrlicher A. The Forces Behind Cell Movement. Int J Biol Sci 2007; 3:303317. http:/ / www. biolsci. org/ v03p0303.
htm
[15] Bernstein H, Bernstein C. (2010) Evolutionary Origin of Recombination during Meiosis. BioScience 60(7):498-505. doi: http:/ / dx. doi. org/
10. 1525/ bio. 2010. 60. 7. 5
[16] Bernstein H, Bernstein C, Michod RE (2012). DNA repair as the primary adaptive function of sex in bacteria and eukaryotes. Chapter 1:
pp.1-49 in: DNA Repair: New Research, Sakura Kimura and Sora Shimizu editors. Nova Sci. Publ., Hauppauge, N.Y. ISBN:
978-1-62100-808-8 https:/ / www. novapublishers. com/ catalog/ product_info. php?products_id=31918
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the NCBI document "Science Primer" (http://www.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/index.html).
External links
Inside the Cell (http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/insidethecell/) - a science education booklet by National
Institutes of Health, in PDF and ePub.
Cells Alive! (http://www.cellsalive.com/)
Cell Biology (http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html) in "The Biology Project" of University
of Arizona.
Centre of the Cell online (http://www.centreofthecell.org/)
The Image & Video Library of The American Society for Cell Biology (http://cellimages.ascb.org/), a
collection of peer-reviewed still images, video clips and digital books that illustrate the structure, function and
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Cell (biology)
biology of the cell.
HighMag Blog (http://highmagblog.blogspot.com/), still images of cells from recent research articles.
New Microscope Produces Dazzling 3D Movies of Live Cells (http://www.hhmi.org/news/betzig20110304.
html), March 4, 2011 - Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
WormWeb.org: Interactive Visualization of the C. elegans Cell lineage (http://wormweb.org/celllineage) Visualize the entire cell lineage tree of the nematode C. elegans
Textbooks
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell (http://www.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mboc4.TOC&depth=2) (4th ed.). Garland. ISBN0-8153-3218-1.
Lodish H, Berk A, Matsudaira P, Kaiser CA, Krieger M, Scott MP, Zipurksy SL, Darnell J (2004). Molecular
Cell Biology (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mcb.TOC) (5th ed.). WH Freeman: New
York, NY. ISBN978-0-7167-4366-8.
Cooper GM (2000). The cell: a molecular approach (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.
fcgi?rid=cooper.TOC&depth=2) (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C: ASM Press. ISBN0-87893-102-3.
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