DICTYOSOME Meaning and
Definition
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A dictyosome, also known as a Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex, is an essential organelle in eukaryotic cells involved in the processing, sorting, and transport of proteins and lipids within the cell. It is named after the Italian cytologist Camillo Golgi, who first characterized it in the late 19th century.
A dictyosome is typically composed of a stack of flattened, membrane-bound sacs called cisternae. These cisternae are interconnected by tubules that facilitate the movement of molecules and vesicles throughout the organelle. The number of cisternae in a dictyosome can vary depending on the cell type and its function.
The main function of the dictyosome is to modify and package proteins and lipids synthesized by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for transport to different parts of the cell or secretion outside the cell. This involves a series of processes, including protein folding, glycosylation, and addition of chemical groups. The dictyosome then sorts these molecules into vesicles that bud off from the trans face of the Golgi complex. These vesicles can be targeted to specific cellular compartments or fuse with the plasma membrane for secretion.
In addition to its role in protein and lipid processing, the dictyosome also plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the cell. It produces certain macromolecules needed for the construction of the cell wall, extracellular matrix, and other cellular structures.
Overall, the dictyosome is a vital organelle involved in cellular metabolism and the regulation of intracellular transport pathways, ensuring proper communication and functioning of different compartments within eukaryotic cells.
Common Misspellings for DICTYOSOME
- sictyosome
- xictyosome
- cictyosome
- fictyosome
- rictyosome
- eictyosome
- ductyosome
- djctyosome
- dkctyosome
- doctyosome
- d9ctyosome
- d8ctyosome
- dixtyosome
- divtyosome
- diftyosome
- didtyosome
- dicryosome
- dicfyosome
- dicgyosome
Etymology of DICTYOSOME
The word dictyosome is derived from two Greek words: dictyo meaning net or network, and soma meaning body. In Greek, dictyos refers to a net-like structure, while soma means body or cell. The combination of these two terms describes the appearance of the Golgi apparatus, an organelle found in eukaryotic cells involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins. This organelle consists of a series of stacked membrane-bound compartments that resemble a net-like structure when observed under a microscope, thus leading to the term dictyosome.
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