Information about Organelle

In cell biology, an organelle is a specialized subunit within a cell, having a specific function, and separately enclosed within its own lipid membrane.

The name organelle comes from the idea that these structures are to cells what an organ is to the body (hence the name organelle, the suffix -elle being a diminutive). Organelles are identified through the use of microscopy, and can also be identified by cell fractionation.



There are many types of organelles, particularly in the eukaryotic cells of higher organisms. Prokaryotes were once thought not to have organelles, but some examples have now been identified.[1]

Examples and disputes

Some cell biologists consider the term organelle to be synonymous with "cell compartment".

Other cell biologists choose to limit the term organelle to include only those which are DNA-containing, having originated from formerly autonomous microscopic organisms acquired via endosymbiosis. The most notable of these organelles having originated from endosymbiont bacteria: Other organelles are also suggested to have endosymbiotic origins, (notably the flagellum - see evolution of flagella).

Not all parts of the cell qualify as organelles, and the use of the term to refer to some structures is disputed. These structures are large assemblies of macromolecules that carry out particular and specialized functions, but they lack membrane boundaries. Such cell structures, which are not formally organelles, include:

Eukaryotic organelles

Eukaryotes are the most structurally complex cell type, and by definition are in part organized by smaller interior compartments, that are themselves enclosed by lipid membranes that resemble the outermost cell membrane. The larger organelles, such as the nucleus and vacuoles, are easily visible with the light microscope. They were among the first biological discoveries made after the invention of the microscope.

Not all eukaryotic cells have every one of the organelles listed below. Exceptional species of cells do not have some organelles which might otherwise be considered universal to eukaryotes (such as mitochondria[2]). There are also occasional exceptions to the number of membranes surrounding organelles, listed in the tables below (e.g. some which are listed as double-membraned are sometimes found with single or triple membranes). In addition to this, the amount of the individual organelles varies depending upon the function of the specific cell to which it is found.
Major eukaryotic organelles
Organelle Main function Structure Organisms Notes
chloroplast (plastid)photosynthesisdouble-membrane compartmentplants, protistshas some genes
endoplasmic reticulumtranslation and folding of new proteins (rough endoplasmic reticulum), expression of lipids (smooth endoplasmic reticulum)single-membrane compartmentall eukaryotesrough endoplasmic reticulum is covered with ribosomes, has folds which are flat sacs; smooth endoplasmic reticulum has folds which are tubular
Golgi apparatussorting and modification of proteinssingle-membrane compartmentall eukaryotescis face (convex) nearest to rough endoplasmic reticum; trans face (concave) farthest to rough endoplasmic reticulum
mitochondrionenergy productiondouble-membrane compartmentmost eukaryoteshas some DNA
vacuolestorage, homeostasissingle-membrane compartmenteukaryotes
nucleusDNA maintenance, RNA transcriptiondouble-membrane compartmentall eukaryoteshas bulk of genome


Mitochondria and chloroplasts, which have double-membranes and their own DNA, are believed to have originated from incompletely consumed or invading prokaryotic organisms, which were adopted as a part of the invaded cell. This idea is supported in the Endosymbiotic theory.

Originally, the word organelle referred to large lipid-encased formerly autonomous endosymbiont within cells. As other intracellular compartments were discovered, the meaning was generalized to include any lipid-encased intracellular component with a specialized biochemical function.

Minor eukaryotic organelles and cell components
Organelle/Macromolecule Main function Structure Organisms
acrosomehelps spermatoza fuse with ovumsingle-membrane compartmentmany animals
autophagosomevesicle which sequesters cytoplasmic material and organelles for degradationdouble-membrane compartmentall eukaryotic cells
centrioleanchor for cytoskeletonMicrotubule proteinanimals
ciliummovement in or of external mediumMicrotubule proteinanimals, protists, few plants
glycosomecarries out glycolysissingle-membrane compartmentSome protozoa, such as Trypanosomes.
glyoxysomeconversion of fat into sugarssingle-membrane compartmentplants
hydrogenosomeenergy & hydrogen productiondouble-membrane compartmenta few unicellular eukaryotes
lysosomebreakdown of large molecules (e.g. proteins + polysaccharides)single-membrane compartmentmost eukaryotes
melanosomepigment storagesingle-membrane compartmentanimals
mitosomenot characterizeddouble-membrane compartmenta few unicellular eukaryotes
myofibrilmuscular contractionbundled filamentsanimals
nucleolusribosome productionprotein-DNA-RNAmost eukaryotes
parenthesomenot characterizednot characterizedfungi
peroxisomebreakdown of metabolic hydrogen peroxidesingle-membrane compartmentall eukaryotes
ribosometranslation of RNA into proteinsRNA-proteineukaryotes, prokaryotes
vesiclematerial transportsingle-membrane compartmentall eukaryotes


Other related structures:

Prokaryotic organelles

Prokaryotes are not as structurally, nor metabolically complex as eukaryotes, and were once thought not to have any internal structures enclosed by lipid membranes. In the past they were often viewed as having little internal organization, but slowly details are emerging about prokaryotic internal structures. One contributing discovery was that at least some prokaryotes have microcompartments, which are compartments enclosed by proteins.[1] Even more striking is the description of magnetosomes,[4][5] as well as the nucleus-like structures of the Planctomycetes that are surrounded by lipid membranes.[6]

Prokaryotic organelles and cell components
Organelle/Macromolecule Main function Structure Organisms
carboxysomecarbon fixationprotein-shell compartmentsome bacteria
chlorosomephotosynthesislight harvesting complexgreen sulfur bacteria
flagellummovement in external mediumprotein filamentsome prokaryotes and eukaryotes
magnetosomemagnetic orientationinorganic crystal, lipid membranemagnetotactic bacteria
nucleoidDNA maintenance & transcription to RNADNA-proteinprokaryotes
plasmidDNA exchangecircular DNAsome bacteria
ribosometranslation of RNA into proteinsRNA-proteineukaryotes, prokaryotes
thylakoidphotosynthesisphotosystem proteins and pigmentsmostly cyanobacteria

See also

References

1. ^ Kerfeld CA, Sawaya MR, Tanaka S, et al (2005). "Protein structures forming the shell of primitive bacterial organelles". Science 309 (5736): 936-8. PMID 16081736. 
2. ^ Fahey RC, Newton GL, Arrack B, Overdank-Bogart T, Baley S (1984). "Entamoeba histolytica: a eukaryote without glutathione metabolism". Science 224 (4644): 70-72. PMID 6322306. 
3. ^ Kerfeld CA, Sawaya MR, Tanaka S, et al (2005). "Protein structures forming the shell of primitive bacterial organelles". Science 309 (5736): 936-8. PMID 16081736. 
4. ^ Komeili A, Li Z, Newman DK, Jensen GJ (2006). "Magnetosomes are cell membrane invaginations organized by the actin-like protein MamK". Science 311 (5758): 242-5. PMID 16373532. 
5. ^ Scheffel A, Gruska M, Faivre D, Linaroudis A, Plitzko JM, Schüler D (2006). "An acidic protein aligns magnetosomes along a filamentous structure in magnetotactic bacteria". Nature 440 (7080): 110-4. PMID 16299495. 
6. ^ Fuerst JA (2005). "Intracellular compartmentation in planctomycetes". Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 59: 299-328. PMID 15910279. 
  • Alberts, Bruce et al. (2002). The Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th ed., Garland Science, 2002, ISBN 0-8153-3218-1.
Into Matter
    [ e]
OrganismSystemOrganTissueCell→Organelle→MoleculeAtomSubatomic particleElementary particle
Cell biology (also called cellular biology or formerly cytology, from the Greek kytos, "container") is an academic discipline that studies cells. This includes their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with
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Lipids can be broadly defined as any fat-soluble (hydrophobic), naturally-occurring molecules. The term is more-specifically used to refer to fatty-acids and their derivatives (including tri-, di-, and monoglycerides and phospholipids) as well as other fat-soluble sterol-containing
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organ (Latin: organum, "instrument, tool") is a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues. The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ.
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body is the integral physical material of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death. The study of the workings of the body is physiology.
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A diminutive is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment. It is the opposite of an augmentative.
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Microscopy is any technique for producing visible images of structures or details too small to otherwise be seen by the human eye, using a microscope or other magnification tool. It is often used more specifically as a technique of using a microscope.
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Cell fractionation is the separation of homogeneous sets, usually organelles, from a heterogeneous population of cells.

Steps

  1. Disruption (homogenisation) of cells and liberation of organelles.
  2. Macro Filtration
  3. Purification of cell components.

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Prokaryotes (IPA: /prəʊˈkæriəʊtiz/) are a group of organisms that lack a cell nucleus (= karyon), or any other membrane-bound organelles.
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An endosymbiont is any organism that lives within the body or cells of another organism, i.e. forming an endosymbiosis (Greek: endo = inner, sym = together and biosis = living).
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An endosymbiont is any organism that lives within the body or cells of another organism, i.e. forming an endosymbiosis (Greek: endo = inner, sym = together and biosis = living).
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Bacteria

Phyla

Actinobacteria
Aquificae
Chlamydiae
Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi
Chloroflexi
Chrysiogenetes
Cyanobacteria
Deferribacteres
Deinococcus-Thermus
Dictyoglomi
Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria
Firmicutes
Fusobacteria
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Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide to produce sugars, the raw material for energy and biomass production in all green plants
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The evolution of flagella is of great interest to biologists because the three known varieties of flagella (eukaryotic, bacterial, and archaebacterial) each represent an extremely sophisticated cellular structure that requires the interaction of many different and finely-tuned
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macromolecule implies large molecule. In the context of science and engineering, the term may be applied to conventional polymers and biopolymers (such as DNA) as well as non-polymeric molecules with large molecular mass such as lipids or macrocycles.
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A ribosome is a small, dense, functional structure found in most known cells that assemble proteins and polypeptides used in cell division. It catalyses the assembly of individual amino acids into polypeptide chains by reading messenger RNAs and binding amino acids that are
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cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained, as all other organelles, within the cytoplasm. It is contained in all eukaryotic cells and recent research has shown it can be present in prokaryotic cells too.
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A flagellum (plural: flagella) is a long, slender projection from the cell body, composed of microtubules and surrounded by the plasma membrane.
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nucleus (3) ribosome (4) vesicle (5) rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (6) Golgi apparatus (7) Cytoskeleton (8) smooth ER (9) mitochondria (10) vacuole (11) cytoplasm (12) lysosome (13) centrioles]]

In cell biology, the nucleus (pl.
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vacuole (11) cytoplasm (12) lysosome (13) centrioles]] Vacuoles are found in the cytoplasm of most plant cells. Vacuoles are membrane-bound compartments within some eukaryotic cells that can serve a variety of secretory, excretory, and storage functions.
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optical microscope, often referred to as a "light microscope", is a type of microscope which uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images of small samples. Optical microscopes are the oldest and simplest of the microscopes.
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Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide to produce sugars, the raw material for energy and biomass production in all green plants
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Plastids are major organelles found in plants and algae.

Plastids in plants

Plastids are responsible for photosynthesis, storage of products like starch and for the synthesis of many classes of molecules such as fatty acids and terpenes which are needed as cellular
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