What are organelles?
are small structures that act very specific functions in cells. The term is a reference to the organs and compares the way these structures work in cells to the way the organs work in the body. A number of different organelles can be found within different types of plant, animal and bacterial cells. Each has its own important task, such as energy production or production proteins.
types
These structures have a wide range of functions, most of which are tasks that are critical of cell life. The most important structures are core, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and chloroplastics. Each tends to be placed in specific areas of cells. Usually the core is located near the center, with ER and Golgi located nearby and the remaining organelles spread in the cell.
The type and number of organelles present in the cell varies depending on the purpose of the cell. For example, almost plant and animal cells contain a nucleus, with remarkable inThe exception of ripe red blood cells that contain no organelles or genetic material. Another example is that muscle cells usually have much more mitochondria than other cell types, because more energy is needed for the effective functioning of muscle cells.
Structure
Scientists believe that the overall reason why organelles developed is that cells benefit from the isolation of many complex chemical reactions that occur in them. Within plant and animal cells, each of them is closed in their own membrane, which helps the function of the unit. One of the main advantages of this protection is that within the membrane unit can be chemical conditions, such as pH, modify without affecting the entire cell. Similarly, the content of each of them is isolated from what occurs in the cell in general.
Some or organelalas are so large that their shape and surface can be seen under a light microscope. FloorMitochondria and Golgi, as well as the cell nucleus. However, an electron microscope is required to view them. Only when these structures could be examined by electron microscopy, scientists began to understand how they work.
energy production
mitochondria are responsible for providing usable cell energy. They are found in the most complex organisms, including mushrooms and plants and animals. The main function of these structures is to produce a molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP, which is the main energy source in animal and fungal cells and a secondary source of plants. Mitochondria also has other functions, including cell metabolism and calcium storage.
Some organelles are found only within a specific type of organism. The best known example is the chloroplasts found only in the cells of plants and algae. Chloroplasts use sunlight to produce glucose in a process known as photosynthesis. Another example is the carboxysom that isIt is only in some bacterial species. Carboxysoms allow bacteria to turn carbon into organic molecules that can use for energy.
Protein production and DNA interaction
Many organelles are able to communicate with each other, either because of their proximity or through chemical signaling. For example, the endoplasmic reticulum connects to the Golgim apparatus and both of these units are connected to the production of new proteins. New proteins are produced in the endoplasmic reticulum and move from there to Golgi, where they are modified and packed for transport to other places in the cell.
Another example of this communication is the one that occurs between the core of the cells and other organelles in it. Although the core and DNA contained, not physically connect with other cellular structures, it communicates with the rest of the cell through protein signaling molecules. A membrane that surrounds the core, controls what can enter and leave the structure, restriction of operation to SPecial proteins that are able to interact with DNA chains.
disease
as well as larger organs can be affected by health problems, individual organelles can also be exposed to health conditions and congenital disorders. These structures are so necessary for the cellular function that the disease that affects them often causes serious symptoms and in some cases are fatal. Dysfunction can have extensive and unexpected results.
Endoplasmic dysfunction of the reticulum was involved in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, and in Alzheimer's, Huntington and Parkinson's diseases. In any case, it is assumed that cellular dysfunction, which emphasizes the ER, contributes to the symptoms that develop. Among the diseases that affect the Golgiporuch of Italian disorders that cause liver disease, mental disability and seizures, and usually cause death before the child reaches for two years.
A large family of conditions known as mitochondrial disorders cane to cause everything from digestive problems to blindness, depending on the specific nature of the disorder that the person is affected. These conditions may be difficult to treat, as they usually include congenital defects that cause damage to all organelles connected in a given type of cell.