Golgi apparatus

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

The video thumbnail image shows an illustration of an animal cell next to a photo of a whale swimming in the oean.

Bacterial, animal, and plant cells compared

Golgi apparatus

Q: What is the Golgi apparatus?

The Golgi apparatus, also called Golgi complex or Golgi body, is a membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells (cells with clearly defined nuclei) that is made up of a series of flattened stacked pouches called cisternae. 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 is responsible for transporting, modifying, and packaging proteins and lipids into vesicles for delivery to targeted destinations. As the secretory proteins move through the Golgi apparatus, a number of chemical modifications may transpire. Important among these is the modification of carbohydrate groups. Also within the Golgi or secretory vesicles are proteases that cut many secretory proteins at specific amino acid positions.

Q: How was the Golgi apparatus discovered?

The Golgi apparatus was observed in 1897 by Italian cytologist Camillo Golgi . In Golgi’s early studies of nervous tissue, he established a staining technique that he referred to as reazione nera , meaning “black reaction”; today it is known as the Golgi stain. In this technique, nervous tissue is fixed with potassium dichromate and then suffused with silver nitrate. While examining neurons that he stained by using his black reaction, Golgi identified an “internal reticular apparatus.” This structure became known as the Golgi apparatus, though some scientists questioned whether the structure was real and attributed the find to free-floating particles of Golgi’s metal stain. In the 1950s, however, when the electron microscope came into use, the existence of the Golgi apparatus was confirmed.

Q: How is the Golgi apparatus structured?

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,” “medial,” and “trans.” The cis Golgi network and the trans Golgi network, which are made up of the outermost cisternae at the cis and trans faces, are structurally polarized. The cis face lies near the transitional region of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, while the trans face lies near the cell membrane. These two networks 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. The cis face membranes are generally thinner than the others.

physiology

Also known as: Golgi body, Golgi complex

Written by Kara Rogers

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 27, 2024 • Article History

Also called:: Golgi complex or Golgi body

Key People:: Camillo Golgi

Related Topics:: organelle; cis Golgi cisternae; cisterna; trans Golgi cisternae

See all related content

What is the Golgi apparatus?

How was the Golgi apparatus discovered?

How is the Golgi apparatus structured?

Golgi apparatus, 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. Secretory proteins and glycoproteins, cell membrane proteins, lysosomal proteins, and some glycolipids all pass through the Golgi apparatus at some point in ...(100 of 1011 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.