The Golgi apparatus, also known as the Golgi complex, is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It plays a vital role in the processing, packaging, and distribution of proteins and lipids produced by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) within the cell.
Structure of Golgi Apparatus
The Golgi apparatus is composed of a series of flattened, membrane-bound sacs called cisternae. These cisternae are organized in stacks, with the cis face being the receiving end and the trans face being the shipping end of the Golgi apparatus. The Golgi apparatus is also associated with small vesicles, which transportmaterials to and from the organelle.
Functions of Golgi Apparatus
The main functions of the Golgi apparatus include:
Processing: The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids produced by the ER. This may involve adding sugar chains (glycosylation), trimming these chains, or adding other functional groups to molecules.
Sorting: It sorts the processed molecules and directs them to their appropriate destinations within the cell, such as other organelles or the cell membrane.
Secretion: The Golgi apparatus packages molecules into vesicles for secretion outside the cell via exocytosis.
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