Details of Cell Structure Day 1 or 2

Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes Eukaryotes are species with cells containing a nucleus (like onions) Prokaryotes don’t have nuclei in their cells (many bacteria) We will focus on eukaryotes (since that’s what humans are) to study cancer treatments

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Overview animalport.com

Cellular Competition There are countless metaphors for the cell- create your own metaphor and explain to the other group(s) Example: the cell is like a factory- the nucleus is the control center…

Themes for this unit Structure correlates with function Biochemical pathways are interrelated The cell is highly developed and safeguarded- there are always multiple ways to do the same thing

Cell Membrane

Cytoplasm Jelly-like Gives the cell shape and flexibility Contains all the organelles The lightly stained region of the onion cell Cytoskeleton provides structural suppot

Nucleus The brain of the cell One of the largest organelles Surrounded by a complex double membrane- nuclear envelope Has a section for keeping chromosomes- the wrapped up DNA Makes ribosomes and exports them

Ribosomes Protein making machine! Made of proteins and RNA (similar to DNA) 2 subunits- when they join they can produce protein Stuck in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum

Cancer Connection Imagine you are a cancer cell- your main goal is to replicate as much as possible. What should you do to your mitochondria?

Answer Replication is extremely energy- intensive so you might answer that cancer cells make more mitochondria or prevent mitochondrial apoptosis- the death of mitochondria We will learn a little about biochemical pathways to see that the real answer is MUCH more complex! (cancer cells actually don’t like using mitochondria)

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Network of weaving membrane with ribosomes stuck on Many sack like structures attached to the ER Inside each sack is the lumen (sort of like another cytoplasm) The ribosomes stuck to the ER also make protein- but these proteins are meant to be stuck in membranes or exported from the cell

Practice How does the structure of the ER help it serve its function? Function: Help make proteins to be stuck in the membrane or pass through the membrane

Answer As the protein is synthesized, it is embedded directly into membrane (the ER sacks) that is hydrophobic The lumen provides a controlled environment for protein folding

Smooth ER Primarily a lipid processing center No ribosomes = no proteins made Note: again the membrane folds of the ER are useful for dealing with hydrophobic substances

Lysosomes Solid waste processing bubbles Filled with enzymes to degrade unwanted materials Can destroy almost anything! What pH do you expect inside the lysosome?

Mitochondria Energy producer The energy currency inside the cell is ATP (for us its something like Kilowatt hours) Contains all the enzymes to make ATP from acetyl coa (a product of glucose and lipid processing- our food)

The task Get into groups of 7 Take 1 page and divide the roles among all 7 of you Each person has a different role (nucleus, outer membrane, etc.)- described on their page of the packet