Organelles, biosynthesis

Clindamycin, a lincosamide derivative, inhibits protein biosynthesis within a unique organelle of the parasite, termed apicoplast. Its mode of action is similar to that of spiramycin. 

Cholesterol is a widely distributed sterol found free or esterified to fatty acids. It is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones and the principal component of cell plasma membranes and the membranes of intracellular organelles. 

In eukaryotes, anabolic and catabolic pathways that interconvert common products may take place in specific subcellular compartments. For example, many of the enzymes that degrade proteins and polysaccharides reside inside organelles called lysosomes. Similarly, fatty acid biosynthesis occurs in the cytosol, whereas fatty... 

Microscopic examination of the mature neutrophils reveals two striking features a single multilobed nucleus and a dense, granular appearance of the cytoplasm (see Fig. 1.1a). The nucleus typically comprises two to four segments, and within this organelle the chromatin is coarsely clumped. Until recently, this abnormal chromatin structure was taken as evidence that the nucleus was transcriptionally inactive however, it is now appreciated that the mature neutrophil does perform active transcription ( 7.3), although rates of biosynthesis are somewhat lower than those observed in cells such as monocytes. There is no detectable nucleolus, so there can be only limited synthesis of ribosomal RNA in these cells. 

Plants must be especially versatile in their handling of carbohydrates, for several reasons. First, plants are autotrophs, able to convert inorganic carbon (as C02) into organic compounds. Second, biosynthesis occurs primarily in plastids, membrane-bounded organelles unique to plants, and the movement of intermediates between cellular compartments is an important aspect of metabolism. Third, plants are not motile they cannot move to find better supplies of water, sunlight, or nutrients. They must have sufficient metabolic flexibility to allow them to adapt to changing conditions in the place where they are rooted. Finally, plants have thick cell walls made of carbohydrate polymers, which must be assembled outside the plasma membrane and which constitute a significant proportion of the cell s carbohydrate. 

A schematic block diagram of the metabolism of a typical aerobic heterotroph. The block labeled Catabolism represents pathways by which nutrients are converted to small-molecule starting materials for biosynthetic processes. Catabolism also supplies the energy (ATP) and reducing power (NADPH) needed for activities that occur in the second block these compounds shuttle between the two boxes. The block labeled Biosynthesis represents the synthesis of low- to medium-molecular-weight components of the cell as well as the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates and the assembly of membranes, organelles, and the other structures of the cell. 

In addition to their plasma membrane eukaryotic cells also contain internal membranes that define a variety of organelles (fig. 17.2). Each of these organelles is specialized for particular functions The nucleus synthesizes nucleic acids, mitochondria oxidize carbohydrates and lipids and make ATP, chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis, the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus synthesize and secrete proteins, and lysosomes digest proteins. Additional membranes divide mitochondria and chloroplasts into even finer, more specialized subcompartments. Like the plasma membrane, organellar membranes act as barriers to the leakage of proteins, metabolites, and ions they contain transport systems for import and export of materials, and they are the sites of enzymatic activities as diverse as cholesterol biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. 

Our present knowledge of the mechanism of biosynthesis of the two pea cellulases may be summarized diagrammatically as follows, where the organelles involved are indicated in bold type, the processes required are in parentheses, and the physical transfer of template, intermediates, or products is designated by arrows. 

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