Essay On The Endomembrane System

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Introduction
The endomembrane system is the membrane surrounding the organelle within the cytoplasm. Each membrane bound organelle is functionally and structurally compartmentalized within cell. The presence of this system is the fundamental difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes (Raven, Johnson, 2001). Each of membranes is unique and different in relation to molecular compositions and its structure which continue to keep changing in cell’s life time (Reece et al. 2011). This essay is focus on the comparisons of two endomembrane systems, Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane in terms of their structures and functions. Additionally, the consequences to the cell if each of these membranes lost their integrity will be explained.
Structure
The structure of Golgi apparatus is composed of semi-circular and flattened stacks of membrane-bound disc known as cisternae and these stacks of cisternae divide into three regions, cis face, medial and trans face. Cis-face is near endoplasmic reticulum and it mainly receives (or fuse with) the vesicles containing products from ER and synthesize and process to send them off through trans face which is located near plasma membrane and medial Golgi apparatus is between them. Plasma membrane is also a biological membrane that forms selective barrier between the surrounding environment and cell and it consists of phospholipid bilayer with various proteins either embedded or attached to it (Reece et al. 2011).
Lipid composition
Though all endomembrane system have simple basic structure which is double layer of phospholipid (hydrophobic side inward and hydrophilic side outward) with proteins, the composition of lipids and types of proteins may differ due to their characteristic functions. (Campbel...

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...yers and have various different functions. Although their compositions that consists of two membranes have some differences, the fact that cis sides are more ER-like and those on the trans side are more plasma membrane-like has enable us to speculate couple of theories about the origin of Golgi apparatus. They both are engaged in secretory pathway at different stages and failure of the membrane integrity affects greatly on the traffic of cell which leads to number of diseases. Despite many researches and knowledge discovered in plasma membrane, there were only few things known about Golgi apparatus. This is mainly due to the difficulties of purifying the concentrated organelle from intact cells (Sean Murno, 1998). But it still has great potentials and is prominent in medical field. Therefore more detail examination and investigation in depth are expected in future.

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