Golgi Apparatus - Introduction, History, Location, Function

Introduction to Golgi Apparatus

Golgi Apparatus is a cell organelle that is found in most eukaryotic cells. It is also known as Golgi, Golgi complex, or Golgi body. It is part of the endomembrane system present in the cytoplasm and resides at the intersection of the secretory, lysosomal, and endocytic pathways.

The function of the Golgi Apparatus can be compared to post office – it packs and labels proteins and then sends them to different parts of the cells or to extraceullar space via exocytosis,

Its main function inside the cell is collect and dispatch protein vesicles. Golgi Apparatus also has a particular importance in protein processing for secretion as it contains glycosylation enzymes. These enzymes attatch sugar monomers to proteins as these proteins move through the apparatus.

History of Golgi Apparatus

Golgi Apparatus was first identified by Italian biologist and pathologist Camillo Golgi in 1897 during an investigation of the nervous system. He named the cell organelle apparato reticolare interno ("internal reticular apparatus") but was renamed after him in 1898.

Location of Golgi Apparatus

The subcellular localization of the golgi apparatus is variable among eukarytoes. The common feature of Golgi Apparatus is that they are adjacent to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites.

In mammal cells, the golgi bodies is located near the nucleus – close to the centrosome. The stacks of golgi apparatus are linked together by tubular connections, which are dependent on microtubules.

In yeast cells, multiple Golgi Apparatus are scattered throughout the cytoplasm.

In plants, the Golgi Apparatus do not form Golgi ribbons but instead depends on actin cables and not microtubules.

Function of Golgi Apparatus

Major collection and dispatch station of protein vesicles received from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Proteins packed into vesicles fuse with the Golgi Apparatus. These proteins are then modified and destined for secretion to extracellular space through exocytosis for use in the cell.

It also functions in lipid transport and lysosome formation.

Helps in formation of heavily glycosylated proteins called proteoglycans. Golgi complex enzymes append proteins to glycosaminoglycans, which ware present in the extracellular matrix, to form proteoglycans.