Question

What is Golgi apparatus?

Answer 1

Cells are known as the smallest functional as well as structural unit of the living organism. It is capable of processing and performing several biological processes that are required for maintenance of life, development and reproduction. The cell is a membrane bound structure containing a fluid filled cytoplasm and several types of organelles.

Complete step by step answer: Cell organelles are specialized structures that are present inside the cellular membrane and each of them performs certain specific functions. The cell organelles are a subunit existing inside of the cell. The organelles are either separately enclosed by self-membrane or may be present as distinct functional units without any membrane. The membranes are made up of two layers of lipid and are known as the lipid bilayer. The different types of cell organelles are mitochondria, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, ribosomes etc.
The Golgi apparatus has an important cell organelle that is associated with the part of the endomembrane system of the cell. It is present in the cytoplasm of the cell and is found in most of the eukaryotic cells.
The Golgi apparatus is made up of a number of compartments that appear as a collection of fused, flattened membranes including disks. The disks are known as cisternae. They are also known as dictyosomes. The cisternae are known to originate from the vesicular clusters which bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum. The number of stacks varies in various types of cells and can be as much as a hundred of stacks. THe collection of the cisternal stacks are divided into three compartments which are the cis which forms the cis Golgi network, trans which forms the trans Golgi network and the medial compartment. Both the compartments take part in the packaging of proteins and enzymes into the vesicles.
THe important functions of the Golgi apparatus is packaging of proteins into membrane bound vesicles inside the cell prior to the deportation of the vesicles to specific locations. It involves as a part of secretory, lysosomal and endocytic pathways. It is important in processing of proteins and enzymes for secretion.

Note: The Golgi apparatus is made up of stacks of cisternae that are associated with protein packaging and secretion. It works as a dispatch station of the various products that are received from the endoplasmic reticulum which are synthesized and packed into vesicles. It is associated with the lipid transport and lysosomal formation in the cell.