Cambridge International A Level Biology Revision Guide

Chapter 1: Cell structure
The function of the centrioles remains a mystery. Until
recently, it was believed that they acted as MTOCs for the
assembly of the microtubules that make up the spindle
during nuclear division (Chapter 5). It is now known that
this is done by the centrosome, but does not involve
the centrioles.
Centrioles found at the bases of cilia (page 189) and
flagella, where they are known as basal bodies, do act as
MTOCs. The microtubules that extend from the basal
bodies into the cilia and flagella are essential for the
beating movements of these organelles.
Ultrastructure of a plant cell
All the structures so far described in animal cells are also
found in plant cells, with the exception of centrioles and
microvilli. The plant cell structures that are not found in
animal cells are the cell wall, the large central vacuole, and
chloroplasts. These are all shown clearly in Figures 1.27
and 1.28. The structures and functions of cell walls and
vacuoles have been described on page 5.
Chloroplasts
The structure of the chloroplast as seen with the electron
microscope is visible in Figures 1.27–1.29 and at a
higher resolution in Figure 13.6. Chloroplasts tend to
have an elongated shape and a diameter of about 3 to
10 μm (compare 1 μm diameter for mitochondria). Like
mitochondria, they are surrounded by two membranes,
forming the chloroplast envelope. Also like mitochondria,
chloroplasts replicate themselves independently of cell
division by dividing into two.
The main function of chloroplasts is to carry
out photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are an excellent
example of how structure is related to function, so a
brief understanding of their function will help you to
understand their structure.
During the first stage of photosynthesis (the
light dependent stage) light energy is absorbed by
photosynthetic pigments, particularly the green pigment
chlorophyll. Some of this energy is used to manufacture
ATP from ADP. An essential stage in the process is the
cell surface
membrane
ribosome
19
nuclear envelope
heterochromatin
euchromatin
nucleolus
nuclear pore
tonoplast
vacuole
chloroplast
cell wall
endoplasmic
reticulum
mitochondrion
starch grain
Golgi body
Figure 1.27 A representative plant cell as seen with a TEM. The cell is a palisade cell from a soya bean leaf (× 5600).