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Chapter 6 A Tour of the Cell PowerPoint Lectures for Biology, Seventh Edition Neil Campbell and Jane Reece Lectures by Chris Romero Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Pop Quiz Use your flash cards 1. Is a membranous sac of hydrolytic enzymes 2. Focus a beam of electrons through a specimen 3. Gives mechanical support to the cell. General Term. 4. Is used to isolate cell components, based on size and density 5. Hold reserves of important organic compounds and water 6. Have extensive and elaborately arranged internal membranes 7. Are channels that perforate plant cell walls 8. Carry out protein synthesis 9. Synthesizes lipids, metabolizes carbohydrates, stores calcium. 10. Is considered to be a “microtubule-organizing center” Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Answers 1. Lysosomes 2. Transmission Electron Microscope 3. Cytoskeleton 4. Cell fractionation 5. Vacuole 6. Eukaryotic cell 7. Plasmodermata 8. Ribosomes 9. Smooth ER 10. Centrosomes Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cells Overview: The Importance of Cells • All organisms are made of cells • The cell is the simplest collection of matter that can live Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Microscopy • Scientists use microscopes to visualize cells too small to see with the naked eye Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Types of Microscopes Unaided eye • Different types of microscopes – Can be used to visualize different sized cellular structures 10 m 0.1 m Human height Length of some nerve and muscle cells Chicken egg 1 cm Light microscope 1m 10 µ m 1µm 100 nm Most plant and Animal cells Nucleus Most bacteria Mitochondrion Smallest bacteria Viruses 10 nm Ribosomes Proteins 1 nm Lipids Small molecules Figure 6.2 0.1 nm Atoms Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Electron microscope 100 µm Electron microscope Frog egg 1 mm Measurements 1 centimeter (cm) = 102 meter (m) = 0.4 inch 1 millimeter (mm) = 10–3 m 1 micrometer (µm) = 10–3 mm = 10–6 m 1 nanometer (nm) = 10–3 mm = 10–9 m Light Microscopes • Light microscopes (LMs) – Pass visible light through a specimen – Magnify cellular structures with lenses Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Electron Microscopes • Electron microscopes (EMs) – Focus a beam of electrons through a specimen (TEM) or onto its surface (SEM) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings SEM • The scanning electron microscope (SEM) – Provides for detailed study of the surface of a specimen TECHNIQUE RESULTS 1 µm Cilia (a) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Micrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope show a 3D image of the surface of a specimen. This SEM shows the surface of a cell from a rabbit trachea (windpipe) covered with motile organelles called cilia. Beating of the cilia helps move inhaled debris upward toward the throat. Figure 6.4 (a) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings TEM • The transmission electron microscope (TEM) – Provides for detailed study of the internal ultrastructure of cells Longitudinal section of cilium (b) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A transmission electron microscope profiles a thin section of a specimen. Here we see a section through a tracheal cell, revealing its ultrastructure. In preparing the TEM, some cilia were cut along their lengths, creating longitudinal sections, while other cilia were cut straight across, creating cross sections. Figure 6.4 (b) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cross section of cilium 1 µm Isolating Organelles by Cell Fractionation • The process of cell fractionation APPLICATION Cell fractionation is used to isolate (fractionate) cell components, based on size and density. TECHNIQUE First, cells are homogenized in a blender to break them up. The resulting mixture (cell homogenate) is then centrifuged at various speeds and durations to fractionate the cell components, forming a series of pellets. Figure 6.5 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Isolating Organelles by Cell Fractionation Homogenization Tissue cells 1000 g Homogenate (1000 times the force of gravity) Differential centrifugation 10 min Supernatant poured into next tube 20,000 g 20 min Pellet rich in nuclei and cellular debris Figure 6.5 80,000 g 60 min 150,000 g 3 hr Pellet rich in mitochondria (and chloroplasts if cells are from a Pellet rich in plant) “microsomes” (pieces of plasma membranes and Pellet rich in cells’ internal ribosomes membranes) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cell types Concept 6.2: Eukaryotic cells have internal membranes that compartmentalize their functions • Two types of cells make up every organism – Prokaryotic – Eukaryotic Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Comparing Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells • All cells have several basic features in common 1. They are bounded by a plasma membrane 2. They contain a semifluid substance called the cytosol 3. They contain chromosomes 4. They all have ribosomes Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Prokaryotic Pili: attachment structures on the surface of some prokaryotes Nucleoid: region where the cell’s DNA is located (not enclosed by a membrane) Ribosomes: organelles that synthesize proteins Bacterial chromosome (a) A typical rod-shaped bacterium Plasma membrane: membrane enclosing the cytoplasm Cell wall: rigid structure outside the plasma membrane Capsule: jelly-like outer coating of many prokaryotes 0.5 µm Flagella: locomotion organelles of some bacteria Figure 6.6 A, B Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings (b) A thin section through the bacterium Bacillus coagulans (TEM) Surface area to volume • A smaller cell – Has a higher surface to volume ratio, which facilitates the exchange of materials into and out of the cell Surface area increases while total volume remains constant 5 1 1 Total surface area (height width number of sides number of boxes) 6 150 750 Total volume (height width length number of boxes) 1 125 125 Surface-to-volume ratio (surface area volume) 6 12 6 Figure 6.7 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Plasma membrane • The plasma membrane – Functions as a selective barrier – Allows sufficient passage of nutrients and waste Outside of cell Carbohydrate side chain Hydrophilic region Inside of cell 0.1 µm Hydrophobic region Figure 6.8 A, B (a) TEM of a plasma membrane. The plasma membrane, here in a red blood cell, appears as a pair of dark bands separated by a light band. Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Hydrophilic region Phospholipid Proteins (b) Structure of the plasma membrane A Panoramic View of the Eukaryotic Cell • Eukaryotic cells – Have extensive and elaborately arranged internal membranes, which form organelles Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Animal • A animal cell ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER) Rough ER Smooth ER Nuclear envelope Nucleolus NUCLEUS Chromatin Flagelium Plasma membrane Centrosome CYTOSKELETON Microfilaments Intermediate filaments Ribosomes Microtubules Microvilli Golgi apparatus Peroxisome Figure 6.9 Mitochondrion Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Lysosome In animal cells but not plant cells: Lysosomes Centrioles Flagella (in some plant sperm) Plant • A plant cell Nuclear envelope Nucleolus Chromatin NUCLEUS Centrosome Rough endoplasmic reticulum Smooth endoplasmic reticulum Ribosomes (small brwon dots) Central vacuole Tonoplast Golgi apparatus Microfilaments Intermediate filaments CYTOSKELETON Microtubules Mitochondrion Peroxisome Plasma membrane Chloroplast Cell wall Plasmodesmata Wall of adjacent cell Figure 6.9 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings In plant cells but not animal cells: Chloroplasts Central vacuole and tonoplast Cell wall Plasmodesmata The Nucleus: Genetic Library of the Cell Concept 6.3: The eukaryotic cell’s genetic instructions are housed in the nucleus and carried out by the ribosomes • The nucleus – Contains most of the genes in the eukaryotic cell Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings The Nucleus: Genetic Library of the Cell • The nuclear envelope – Encloses the nucleus, separating its contents from the cytoplasm Nucleus 1 µm Nucleolus Chromatin Nucleus Nuclear envelope: Inner membrane Outer membrane Nuclear pore Pore complex Rough ER Surface of nuclear envelope. 1 µm Ribosome 0.25 µm Close-up of nuclear envelope Figure 6.10 Pore complexes (TEM). Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nuclear lamina (TEM). Ribosomes: Protein Factories in the Cell – Carry out protein synthesis Ribosomes ER Cytosol Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Free ribosomes Bound ribosomes Large subunit 0.5 µm TEM showing ER and ribosomes Figure 6.11 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Small subunit Diagram of a ribosome Endomembrane System Concept 6.4: The endomembrane system regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic functions in the cell • The endomembrane system – Includes many different structures • The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) – Accounts for more than half the total membrane in many eukaryotic cells Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings The Endoplasmic Reticulum: Biosynthetic Factory • The ER membrane – Is continuous with the nuclear envelope Smooth ER Rough ER Nuclear envelope ER lumen Cisternae Ribosomes Transitional ER Transport vesicle Smooth ER Rough ER 200 µm Figure 6.12 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings The Endoplasmic Reticulum: Biosynthetic Factory • There are two distinct regions of ER – Smooth ER, which lacks ribosomes – Rough ER, which contains ribosomes Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Functions of Smooth ER • The smooth ER – Synthesizes lipids – Metabolizes carbohydrates – Stores calcium – Detoxifies poison Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Functions of Rough ER • The rough ER – Has bound ribosomes – Produces proteins and membranes, which are distributed by transport vesicles Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings The Golgi Apparatus: Shipping and Receiving Center • The Golgi apparatus – Receives many of the transport vesicles produced in the rough ER – Consists of flattened membranous sacs called cisternae Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Golgi • Functions of the Golgi apparatus include – Modification of the products of the rough ER – Manufacture of certain macromolecules Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Functions • Functions of the Golgi apparatus Golgi apparatus cis face (“receiving” side of Golgi apparatus) 1 Vesicles move 2 Vesicles coalesce to 6 Vesicles also form new cis Golgi cisternae from ER to Golgi transport certain Cisternae proteins back to ER 3 Cisternal maturation: Golgi cisternae move in a cisto-trans direction Figure 6.13 5 Vesicles transport specific proteins backward to newer Golgi cisternae 4 Vesicles form and leave Golgi, carrying specific proteins to other locations or to the plasma membrane for secretion trans face (“shipping” side of Golgi apparatus) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 0.1 0 µm TEM of Golgi apparatus Lysosomes: Digestive Compartments • A lysosome – Is a membranous sac of hydrolytic enzymes – Can digest all kinds of macromolecules Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • A lysosome – Is a membranous sac of hydrolytic enzymes – Can digest all kinds of macromolecules Nucleus • Phagocytosis 1 µm Lysosome Lysosome contains active hydrolytic enzymes Food vacuole fuses with lysosome Hydrolytic enzymes digest food particles Digestive enzymes Lysosome Plasma membrane Digestion Food vacuole Figure 6.14 A (a) Phagocytosis: lysosome digesting food Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Lysosome • Autophagy Lysosome containing two damaged organelles 1µm Mitochondrion fragment Peroxisome fragment Lysosome fuses with vesicle containing damaged organelle Hydrolytic enzymes digest organelle components Lysosome Vesicle containing damaged mitochondrion Figure 6.14 B Digestion (b) Autophagy: lysosome breaking down damaged organelle Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Vacuoles: Diverse Maintenance Compartments • A plant or fungal cell – May have one or several vacuoles Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Vacuoles • Food vacuoles – Are formed by phagocytosis • Contractile vacuoles – Pump excess water out of protist cells Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Vacuoles • Central vacuoles – Are found in plant cells – Hold reserves of important organic compounds and water Central vacuole Cytosol Tonoplast Nucleus Central vacuole Cell wall Chloroplast Figure 6.15 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 5 µm Endomembrane system • Relationships among organelles of the endomembrane system 1 Nuclear envelope is connected to rough ER, which is also continuous with smooth ER Nucleus Rough ER 2 Membranes and proteins produced by the ER flow in the form of transport vesicles to the Golgi Smooth ER cis Golgi Nuclear envelop 3 Golgi pinches off transport Vesicles and other vesicles that give rise to lysosomes and Vacuoles Plasma membrane trans Golgi 4 Lysosome available for fusion with another vesicle for digestion Figure 6.16 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 5 Transport vesicle carries 6 proteins to plasma membrane for secretion Plasma membrane expands by fusion of vesicles; proteins are secreted from cell Energy Organelles • Concept 6.5: Mitochondria and chloroplasts change energy from one form to another • Mitochondria – Are the sites of cellular respiration • Chloroplasts – Found only in plants, are the sites of photosynthesis Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Mitochondria • Mitochondria are enclosed by two membranes – A smooth outer membrane – An inner membrane folded into cristae Mitochondrion Intermembrane space Outer membrane Free ribosomes in the mitochondrial matrix Inner membrane Cristae Matrix Figure 6.17 Mitochondrial DNA Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 100 µm Chloroplasts: Capture of Light Energy • The chloroplast – Is a specialized member of a family of closely related plant organelles called plastids – Contains chlorophyll Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Chloroplasts • Chloroplasts – Are found in leaves and other green organs of plants and in algae Chloroplast Ribosomes Stroma Chloroplast DNA Inner and outer membranes Granum 1 µm Figure 6.18 Thylakoid Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Peroxisomes: Oxidation • Peroxisomes – Produce hydrogen peroxide and convert it to water Chloroplast Peroxisome Mitochondrion Figure 6.19 1 µm Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cytoskeleton Concept 6.6: The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers that organizes structures and activities in the cell Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • The cytoskeleton – Is a network of fibers extending throughout the cytoplasm Microtubule Figure 6.20 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 0.25 µm Microfilaments Roles of the Cytoskeleton: Support, Motility, and Regulation • The cytoskeleton – Gives mechanical support to the cell Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Motility – Is involved in cell motility, which utilizes motor proteins ATP Vesicle Receptor for motor protein Motor protein Microtubule (ATP powered) of cytoskeleton (a) Motor proteins that attach to receptors on organelles can “walk” the organelles along microtubules or, in some cases, microfilaments. Vesicles Microtubule 0.25 µm Figure 6.21 A, B (b) Vesicles containing neurotransmitters migrate to the tips of nerve cell axons via the mechanism in (a). In this SEM of a squid giant axon, two vesicles can be seen moving along a microtubule. (A separate part of the experiment provided the evidence that they were in fact moving.) Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Components of the Cytoskeleton • There are three main types of fibers that make up the cytoskeleton Table 6.1 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Microtubules – Shape the cell – Guide movement of organelles – Help separate the chromosome copies in dividing cells Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • The centrosome – Is considered to be a “microtubule-organizing center” – Contains a pair of centrioles Centrosome Microtubule Centrioles 0.25 µm Figure 6.22 Longitudinal section of one centriole Microtubules Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cross section of the other centriole Cilia and Flagella • Cilia and flagella – Contain specialized arrangements of microtubules – Are locomotor appendages of some cells (a) Motion of flagella. A flagellum usually undulates, its snakelike motion driving a cell in the same direction as the axis of the flagellum. Propulsion of a human sperm cell is an example of flagellatelocomotion (LM). Direction of swimming (b) Motion of cilia. Cilia have a backand-forth motion that moves the cell in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cilium. A dense nap of cilia, beating at a rate of about 40 to 60 strokes a second, covers this Colpidium, a freshwater protozoan (SEM). Figure 6.23 B Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 1 µm Structure • Cilia and flagella share a common ultrastructure Outer microtubule doublet Dynein arms 0.1 µm Central microtubule Outer doublets cross-linking proteins inside Microtubules Radial spoke Plasma membrane Basal body (b) 0.5 µm (a) 0.1 µm Triplet (c) Figure 6.24 A-C Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cross section of basal body Plasma membrane Protein Movement • The protein dynein – Is responsible for the bending movement of cilia and flagella Microtubule doublets ATP Dynein arm (a) Powered by ATP, the dynein arms of one microtubule doublet grip the adjacent doublet, push it up, release, and then grip again. If the two microtubule doublets were not attached, they would slide relative to each other. Figure 6.25 A Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Protein movement ATP Outer doublets cross-linking proteins Anchorage in cell (b) In a cilium or flagellum, two adjacent doublets cannot slide far because they are physically restrained by proteins, so they bend. (Only two of the nine outer doublets in Figure 6.24b are shown here.) Figure 6.25 B Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 1 3 2 (c) Localized, synchronized activation of many dynein arms probably causes a bend to begin at the base of the Cilium or flagellum and move outward toward the tip. Many successive bends, such as the ones shown here to the left and right, result in a wavelike motion. In this diagram, the two central microtubules and the cross-linking proteins are not shown. Figure 6.25 C Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Microfilaments (Actin Filaments) • Microfilaments – Are built from molecules of the protein actin Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Microvilli – Are found in microvilli Microvillus Plasma membrane Microfilaments (actin filaments) Intermediate filaments Figure 6.26 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings 0.25 µm • Microfilaments that function in cellular motility – Contain the protein myosin in addition to actin Muscle cell Actin filament Myosin filament Myosin arm Figure 6.27 A (a) Myosin motors in muscle cell contraction. Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Amoeboid movement – Involves the contraction of actin and myosin filaments Cortex (outer cytoplasm): gel with actin network Inner cytoplasm: sol with actin subunits Extending pseudopodium Figure 6.27 B (b) Amoeboid movement Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Microfilaments that function in cellular motility – Contain the protein myosin in addition to actin Muscle cell Actin filament Myosin filament Myosin arm Figure 6.27 A (a) Myosin motors in muscle cell contraction. Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Cytoplasmic streaming – Is another form of locomotion created by microfilaments Nonmoving cytoplasm (gel) Chloroplast Streaming cytoplasm (sol) Parallel actin filaments Figure 6.27 C (b) Cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cell wall Intermediate Filaments • Intermediate filaments – Support cell shape – Fix organelles in place Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Extracellular components Concept 6.7: Extracellular components and connections between cells help coordinate cellular activities Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Cell Walls of Plants • The cell wall – Is an extracellular structure of plant cells that distinguishes them from animal cells Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Plant cell walls – Are made of cellulose fibers embedded in other polysaccharides and protein – May have multiple layers Central vacuole of cell Plasma membrane Secondary cell wall Primary cell wall Central vacuole of cell Middle lamella 1 µm Central vacuole Cytosol Plasma membrane Plant cell walls Figure 6.28 Plasmodesmata Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Plants: Plasmodesmata • Plasmodesmata – Are channels that perforate plant cell walls Cell walls Interior of cell Interior of cell Figure 6.30 0.5 µm Plasmodesmata Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Plasma membranes The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) of Animal Cells • Animal cells – Lack cell walls – Are covered by an elaborate matrix, the ECM Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • The ECM – Is made up of glycoproteins and other macromolecules Polysaccharide molecule EXTRACELLULAR FLUID Collagen A proteoglycan complex Carbohydrates Core protein Fibronectin Proteoglycan molecule Plasma membrane Integrin Integrins Microfilaments Figure 6.29 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings CYTOPLASM • Functions of the ECM include – Support – Adhesion – Movement – Regulation Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Animals: Tight Junctions, Desmosomes, and Gap Junctions • In animals, there are three types of intercellular junctions – Tight junctions – Desmosomes – Gap junctions Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings • Types of intercellular junctions in animals TIGHT JUNCTIONS At tight junctions, the membranes of neighboring cells are very tightly pressed against each other, bound together by specific proteins (purple). Forming continuous seals around the cells, tight junctions prevent leakage of extracellular fluid across A layer of epithelial cells. Tight junction Tight junctions prevent fluid from moving across a layer of cells 0.5 µm DESMOSOMES Desmosomes (also called anchoring junctions) function like rivets, fastening cells Together into strong sheets. Intermediate Filaments made of sturdy keratin proteins Anchor desmosomes in the cytoplasm. Tight junctions Intermediate filaments Desmosome Gap junctions Space between Plasma membranes cells of adjacent cells 1 µm Gap junctions (also called communicating junctions) provide cytoplasmic channels from one cell to an adjacent cell. Gap junctions consist of special membrane proteins that surround a pore through which ions, sugars, amino acids, and other small molecules may pass. Gap junctions are necessary for communication between cells in many types of tissues, including heart muscle and animal embryos. Extracellular matrix Gap junction Figure 6.31 Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings GAP JUNCTIONS 0.1 µm