Human Tissue Biology A464
    Cellular Organelles' Structure and Function, The Nucleus
     
     

    The nucleus, generally the largest and most easily seen organelle in a cell, is filled with basophilic chromatin. Chromatin consists of DNA associated with various proteins and RNA. In routinely stained slides, nuclei can show regions of euchromatin and heterochromatin in areas of high and low gene activity respectively.

    In cells synthesizing protein very actively, the specific sites in chromatin with the genes for rRNA become more intensely stained because of the rRNA precursors accumulating there and are seen as nucleoli. Examine

    The nuclear envelope consists of two membranes:

    • The outer is continuous with the ER and the inner is associated with a layer of proteins (the nuclear lamina)and heterochromatin.
    • Passage of ribonucleoprotein particles through the envelope into and out of the nucleus is regulated by nuclear pores.

    How does DNA folding in chromatin involve "nucleosomes" and how does DNA folding differ between euchromatin and heterochromatin?

    List 3 macromolecules that leave the nucleus through nuclear pores and 3 that enter through the pores.

    Membrane bound organelles



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