Golgi apparatus, also called Golgi complex or Golgi body,

membrane-bound organelle of eukaryotic cells (cells with

clearly defined nuclei) that is made up of a series of flattened,

stacked pouches called cisternae. The Golgi apparatus is

responsible for transporting, modifying, and packaging

proteins and lipids into vesicles for delivery to targeted

destinations. It is located in the cytoplasm next to the

endoplasmic reticulum and near the cell nucleus. While many

types of cells contain only one or several Golgi apparatus,

plant cells can contain hundreds.

The Golgi apparatus, or complex, plays an important role

in the modification and transport of …

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

In general, the Golgi apparatus is made up of approximately

four to eight cisternae, although in some single-celled

organisms it may consist of as many as 60 cisternae. The

cisternae are held together by matrix proteins, and the whole

of the Golgi apparatus is supported by cytoplasmic

microtubules. The apparatus has three primary compartments,

known generally as “cis” (cisternae nearest the endoplasmic

reticulum), “medial” (central layers of cisternae), and “trans”

(cisternae farthest from the endoplasmic reticulum). Two

networks, the cis Golgi network and the trans Golgi network,

which are made up of the outermost cisternae at the cis and

trans faces, are responsible for the essential task of sorting

proteins and lipids that are received (at the cis face) or

released (at the trans face) by the organelle.

Golgi Apparatus Function

1. The cell synthesize a huge amount of variety of

macromolecules. The main function of the Golgi

apparatus is to modify, sort and package the

macromolecules that are synthesized by the cells for

secretion purposes or for use within the cell.

2. It mainly modifies the proteins that are prepared by the

rough endoplasmic reticulum.

3. They are also involved in the transport of lipid molecules

around the cell.

4. They also create lysosomes.

5. The Golgi complex is thus referred as post office where

the molecules are packaged, labelled and sent to different

parts of the cell.

6. The enzymes in the cisternae have the ability to modify

proteins by the addition of carbohydrates and phosphate

by the process of glycosylation and phoshphorylation

respectively.

7. In order to modify the proteins the golgi complex

imports substances like nucleotides from the cytosol of

the cell. The modifications brought about by the golgi

body might form a signal sequence. This determines the

final destination of the protein.

8. The Golgi complex also plays an important role in the

production of proteoglycans. The proteoglycans are

molecules that are present in the extracellular matrix of

the animal cells.

9. It is also a major site of synthesis of carbohydrates.

These carbohydratres includes the synthesis of

glycoasaminoglycans, Golgi attaches to these

polysaccharides which then attaches to a protein

produced in the endeoplasmic reticulum to form

proteoglycans.

10. The Golgi involves in the sulfation process of

certain molecules.

11. The process of phosphorylation of molecules by the

Golgi requires the import of ATP into the lumen of the

Golgi.

Golgi apparatus, also called Golgi complex or Golgi body,

membrane-bound organelle of eukaryotic cells (cells with

clearly defined nuclei) that is made up of a series of flattened,

stacked pouches called cisternae. The Golgi apparatus is

responsible for transporting, modifying, and packaging

proteins and lipids into vesicles for delivery to targeted

destinations. It is located in the cytoplasm next to the

endoplasmic reticulum and near the cell nucleus. While many

types of cells contain only one or several Golgi apparatus,

plant cells can contain hundreds.

The Golgi apparatus, or complex, plays an important role in

the modification and transport of …

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

In general, the Golgi apparatus is made up of approximately

four to eight cisternae, although in some single-celled

organisms it may consist of as many as 60 cisternae. The

cisternae are held together by matrix proteins, and the whole

of the Golgi apparatus is supported by cytoplasmic

microtubules. The apparatus has three primary compartments,

known generally as “cis” (cisternae nearest the endoplasmic

reticulum), “medial” (central layers of cisternae), and “trans”

(cisternae farthest from the endoplasmic reticulum). Two

networks, the cis Golgi network and the trans Golgi network,

which are made up of the outermost cisternae at the cis and

trans faces, are responsible for the essential task of sorting

proteins and lipids that are received (at the cis face) or

released (at the trans face) by the organelle.

Golgi Apparatus Function

1. The cell synthesize a huge amount of variety of

macromolecules. The main function of the Golgi apparatus is

to modify, sort and package the macromolecules that are

synthesized by the cells for secretion purposes or for use

within the cell.

2. It mainly modifies the proteins that are prepared by the

rough endoplasmic reticulum.

3. They are also involved in the transport of lipid molecules

around the cell.

4. They also create lysosomes.

5. The Golgi complex is thus referred as post office where the

molecules are packaged, labelled and sent to different parts of

the cell.

6. The enzymes in the cisternae have the ability to modify

proteins by the addition of carbohydrates and phosphate

by the process of glycosylation and phoshphorylation

respectively.

7. In order to modify the proteins the golgi complex imports

substances like nucleotides from the cytosol of the cell. The

modifications brought about by the golgi body might form a

signal sequence. This determines the final destination of the

protein.

8. The Golgi complex also plays an important role in the

production of proteoglycans. The proteoglycans are molecules

that are present in the extracellular matrix of the animal cells.

9. It is also a major site of synthesis of carbohydrates. These

carbohydratres includes the synthesis of

glycoasaminoglycans, Golgi attaches to these polysaccharides

which then attaches to a protein produced in the endeoplasmic

reticulum to form proteoglycans.

10. The Golgi involves in the sulfation process of certain

molecules.

11. The process of phosphorylation of molecules by the Golgi

requires the import of ATP into the lumen of the Golgi.