The What Evolution Organelle Packages Proteins is a comprehensive overview of the packaging of proteins inside organelles and their role in the cell.
What Organelle Packages Proteins
The cell has many specialized compartments that perform different functions. Some organelles are responsible for making proteins, while others package them up and send them out to the rest of the cell.
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
The Golgi apparatus is a flattened, membrane-bound structure within the cell that modifies, packages and transports proteins and other molecules produced by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), such as lipids. The Golgi complex consists of five stacked cisternae (plural for cisterna) that are interconnected by tubular vesicles.
The Golgi apparatus receives proteins from the ER and processes them into different forms to be sent out of the cell or broken down for recycling. It also sends out proteins that have been modified by other organelles in the cell, such as the mitochondria or lysosomes.
The Golgi apparatus can divide its products into two types: secretory vesicles or membrane-bound structures called saccules (also known as intermediate bodies). Secretory vesicles contain enzymes that digest food outside of cells and then release their contents into the digestive tract to aid in digestion. Saccules contain enzymes that break down large molecules into smaller ones so they can be taken up by cells or used as energy sources by cells.
Steps in protein synthesis
- Transcription: The production of RNA molecules from DNA templates (messages) using RNA polymerase enzymes.
- Translation: The production of proteins based on the information contained within RNA molecules using ribosomes to translate mRNA into proteins based on genetic codes stored in DNA molecules.
- Post-translational modification: The chemical reactions that occur after translation that determine protein structure and function as well as regulate their activity levels in cells
Where can you find the Golgi apparatus?
The Golgi apparatus is a series of flattened membrane-bound sacs that are usually stacked end to end. The Golgi apparatus is located in the cytoplasm and has many different roles.
The Golgi apparatus packages proteins into vesicles for transport through a cell. Proteins may be modified as they pass through this organelle’s secretory pathway. These modifications include glycosylation, which adds sugar molecules to a protein; phosphorylation, which adds phosphate groups; and methylation, which adds methyl groups to amino acids.
The Golgi apparatus also transports proteins from one part of the cell to another and moves lipids around the cell. The Golgi apparatus receives materials from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) vesicles that are filled with materials for transport throughout the cell, including proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.
How do scientists know about the existence of Golgi apparatus?
One way that scientists know about the existence of Golgi apparatus is through its location in a cell. The Golgi apparatus can be found near the nucleus of a cell and at times it appears to be connected to it.
Scientists can tell that this organelle is involved with transporting materials because when they add radioactive markers to substances being transported by the Golgi apparatus, they can see where the marker ends up in other parts of the cell. This shows that it is involved in transporting substances from one area to another within a cell.
Another way that scientists know about this organelle is from experiments using chemicals called staining dyes which make certain substances appear different colors depending on what type they are or where they are located within a cell or tissue.
Cell organelles and their functions
- Mitochondria – The mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. They are responsible for producing energy. Energy is needed to carry out all cell functions. Without sufficient energy, the cell cannot function properly.
- Nucleus – The nucleus is the control center of a cell and contains the DNA that provides instructions for making proteins. The DNA is found in the chromosomes within the nucleus.
- Lysosomes – Lysosomes are tiny organelles that contain enzymes that digest material in the cell. This process is called autophagy (self-eating). During autophagy, lysosomes digest old or damaged organelles and proteins within the cytoplasm of a cell.
Is the Golgi apparatus a prokaryotic or eukaryotic structure?
The Golgi apparatus was first described by Walther Flemming in 1874. He called it the “Golgi body” and claimed it was a transitional structure in the formation of neurons. This theory has not been supported by subsequent research.
The Golgi apparatus is a membrane-bound structure that consists of stacked cisternae (small sacs) that are connected to one another via tubular vesicles. It is found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, but it serves different functions in each type of cell.
In prokaryotic cells, the Golgi apparatus is responsible for packaging proteins with carbohydrates into secretory vesicles for transport to other parts of the cell or outside of the cell. The function of this process is similar to that of exocytosis in eukaryotic cells.
Consequences of damage to Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum
When there is damage to the Golgi apparatus, it can cause problems with packaging proteins into vesicles. This can result in problems with transporting proteins from one part of the cell to another or sending them to lysosomes for degradation. When there is damage to the ER, it can cause problems with folding proteins or transferring them to other parts of the cell.
Where does protein degradation occur?
Protein degradation occurs in the cytosol, or cytoplasm, of a cell. The cytoplasm is the fluid portion of the cell that surrounds the nucleus.
The process starts when an enzyme called a protease acts on a protein chain and breaks it down into smaller pieces called amino acids. These amino acids are then recycled by being used to build new proteins or used for energy production.
How do viruses use cell organelles for reproduction?
Viruses are among the smallest living entities on Earth. They’re essentially just a piece of DNA or RNA wrapped up in a protein shell called a capsid.
But some viruses have evolved to take advantage of the cell organelles that make up your body. They hijack the nucleus, for example, to reproduce themselves and some viruses even use mitochondria to help them grow.