B2.2- Organelles and Compartmentalization

Organelle

Compartmentalized subcellular structures found within a cell, which have a specific function

Cell Fractionation

A process which separates cell organelles while preserving their functions

Ultracentrifugation

The process of using a fast centrifuge to separate cell organelles according to density

Plasma Membrane

A semipermeable barrier made of phospholipids which surrounds cells

Homogenization

The process of breaking up cells in a blender to create a homogeneous mixture for cell fractation

Nucleus

The control center of a cell, which houses the cell’s DNA

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance that fills a cell, where most of the metabolism happens

Transcription

The process of creating an mRNA strand from a piece of DNA

Translation

The process of turning an mRNA strand into a protein

Metabolites

Small molecules which are a product of metabolism

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up reactions

Lysosome

Membrane bound organelles which contain digestive enzymes in order to digest macromolecules in the cell

Phagocytosis

The process by which solid materials, such as bacteria, are taken into a cell by endocytosis

Phagocytic Vacuole

Vacuoles that are formed when a cell takes in something through phagocytosis