Eukaryotes - Golgi Apparatus

Description:

Golgi apparatus was first observed by Camillo Golgi in 1898 as densely stained structures near the nucleus. They are flat disc shaped sacs or cisternae. The number of cisternae is varied in a golgi complex.

The golgi cisternae are concentrically arranged near the nucleus. This is the convex cis or the forming face. The other face is the concave trans or maturing face.

Function

• The golgi complex is responsible for packaging of materials.

• These packed materials are delivered to the intra-cellular targets or secreted outside the cell.

• The materials to be packed from ER in the form of vesicles fuse with the cis face of the golgi apparatus and move towards the maturing face. This is why golgi remains in close association with ER.

• A number of proteins that are synthesized on the ER are modified in the cisternae of the golgi apparatus before they are released from the trans face.

• Golgi apparatus are important sites for formation of glycoproteins and glycolipids.