| Journey into the Cell: The Golgi Complex | |||||||
 What is the Golgi complex?
The Golgi complex or Golgi apparatus is responsible for manufacturing, warehousing and shipping certain cellular products, particularly those from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Depending on the type of cell, there can be just a few complexes or there can be hundreds. Cells that specialize in secreting various substances typically have a high number of Golgi complexes. 
Golgi Apparatus, Copyright Dennis Kunkel. What are some distinguishing characteristics?
A Golgi complex is composed of flat sacs that are stacked. Each stacked grouping has a membrane that separates the insides from the cell's cytosol (cyto-). The Golgi complex is very polar. Membranes at one end of the stack differ in both composition and in thickness from those at the other end. One end acts as the "receiving" department and the other as the "shipping" department. The receiving department is closely associated with the ER. The shipping side produces vesicles that "ship" materials to other sites.  Golgi Complex, Image courtesy of The Virtual Cell. The Golgi complex modifies many products including proteins and phospholipids. A complex can also manufacture certain types of macromolecules (macro-). Once such example is hyaluronic acid which is a form of cellular glue. Share your opinions
What do you think about the Golgi complex? What are the advantages to having such a complex? Are there any disadvantages? Come on over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions and feelings. Until next time... [ Journey into the Cell > The Nucleus > Ribosomes > Mitochondria > Endoplasmic Reticulum > Golgi Complex > Lysosomes > Peroxisomes > Cytoskeleton > Cilia and Flagella ] | |||||||
More from About.com
Browse Biology
Must Reads
Most Popular
©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.