Cell biology Totally Explained

Everything about Cellular Biology totally explained

ť See also List of basic cell biology topics.

Cell biology (also called cellular biology or formerly cytology, from the Greek kytos, "container") is an academic discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level. Cell biology research extends to both the great diversity of single-celled organisms like bacteria and the many specialized cells in multicellular organisms like humans.
Knowing the composition of cells and how cells work is fundamental to all of the biological sciences. Appreciating the similarities and also differences between cell types is particularly important to the fields of cell and molecular biology. These fundamental similarities and differences provide a unifying theme, allowing the principles learned from studying one cell type to be extrapolated and generalized to other cell types. Research in cell biology is closely related to genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and developmental biology.

Processes

Movement of proteins

Each type of protein is usually sent to a particular part of the cell. An important part of cell biology is the investigation of molecular mechanisms by which proteins are moved to different places inside cells or secreted from cells. Most proteins are synthesized by ribosomes in the cytoplasm. This process is also known as protein biosynthesis or simply protein translation. Some proteins, such as those to be incorporated in membranes (known as membrane proteins), are transported into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during synthesis. This process can be followed by transportation and processing in the Golgi apparatus. From the Golgi, membrane proteins can move to the plasma membrane, to other subcellular compartments, or they can be secreted from the cell. The ER and Golgi can be thought of as the "membrane protein synthesis compartment" and the "membrane protein processing compartment", respectively. There is a semi-constant flux of proteins through these compartments. ER and Golgi-resident proteins associate with other proteins but remain in their respective compartments. Other proteins "flow" through the ER and Golgi to the plasma membrane. Motor proteins transport membrane protein-containing vesicles along cytoskeletal tracks to distant parts of cells such as axon terminals.
Some proteins that are made in the cytoplasm contain structural features that target them for transport into mitochondria or the nucleus. Some mitochondrial proteins are made inside mitochondria and are coded for by mitochondrial DNA. In plants, chloroplasts also make some cell proteins.
Extracellular and cell surface proteins destined to be degraded can move back into intracellular compartments upon being incorporated into endocytosed vesicles. Some of these vesicles fuse with lysosomes where the proteins are broken down to their individual amino acids. The degradation of some membrane proteins begins while still at the cell surface when they're cleaved by secretases. Proteins that function in the cytoplasm are often degraded by proteasomes.

Other cellular processes

Cell division - a cell division process called mitosis.
Cell signaling - Regulation of cell behavior by signals from outside.
Active transport and Passive transport - Movement of molecules into and out of cells.
Adhesion - Holding together cells and tissues.
Transcription and mRNA splicing - gene expression.
Cell movement: Chemotaxis, Contraction, cilia and flagella
DNA repair and Cell death
Metabolism: Glycolysis, respiration, Photosynthesis
Autophagy - The process whereby cells "eat" their own internal components or microbial invaders

Internal cellular structures

Organelle - term used for major subcellular structures

Chloroplast - key organelle for photosynthesis

Cilia - motile microtubule-containing structures of eukaryotes

Cytoplasm - contents of the main fluid-filled space inside cells

Cytoskeleton - protein filaments inside cells

Ribosome - RNA and protein complex required for protein synthesis in cells

Endoplasmic reticulum - major site of membrane protein synthesis

Flagella - motile structures of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes

Golgi apparatus - site of protein glycosylation in the endomembrane system

Membrane lipid and protein barrier

Lipid bilayer - fundamental organizational structure of cell membranes

Vesicle - small membrane-bounded spheres inside cells

Mitochondrion - major energy-producing organelle

Nucleus - holds most of the DNA of eukaryotic cells

Techniques used to study cells

Cells may be observed under the microscope. This includes the Optical Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fluorescence Microscope, and by Confocal Microscopy. Immunostaining can also be imploded to observe cells. Such examples are:

Gene knockdown and Transfection

Cell culture and Radioactive tracers

PCR and In situ hybridization

DNA microarray screens of gene expression

Computational genomics approaches are used to find patterns in genomic information Purification of cells and their parts Purification may be performed using the following methods:

Flow cytometry

Cell fractionation

Release of cellular organelles by disruption of cells.
Separation of different organelles by centrifugation.

Proteins extracted from cell membranes by detergents and salts or other kinds of chemicals.

Immunoprecipitation.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Cellular Biology'.

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