Golgi Body Function

When you study the structure of a cell in cell biology, you find that the Golgi bodies are a very important part among the various cell organelles. They were discovered by an Italian scientist named Camillo Golgi in 1897, after whom the apparatus is named. The Golgi apparatus was also one of the first cell organelles to be discovered, because of its large size and stacked structure. Before naming it after its discoverer, the Golgi body was known as the "internal reticular apparatus", later named with its present name.

There are many minute details to this cell organelle which also proves to play an important role in the life and functioning of any living cell. It is found in both the plant and animal cell and consists of membrane bound cisternae stacked up one above the other. In this article we will concentrate on the Golgi body function, which is the same for both animal cells and plant cells. So read on and find out which are these functions that are used by the cell for survival.

Golgi Body Function in a Cell

Before we get to the main point of this article which is the Golgi body function, let's brief ourselves with some information about the structure and parts of the Golgi apparatus studied in biology. As mentioned in the introduction, the Golgi body is made up of a stack of membrane bound bodies known as the cisternae. In the plant cells, these stacks are usually found as individuals, called a dictyosome. In one stack of the Golgi body, there are about 4 to 8 cisternae and the animal cells consists of 40 to 100 stacks of such kinds. Each of these cisternae are flat disc like and they consist of specific enzymes which carry out the function of this apparatus.

Now, this stack of cisternae have four functional regions like the cis-Golgi network, medial-Golgi, endo-Golgi, and trans-Golgi network, where the basic function of the Golgi bodies are carried out for the plant or animal cell. These stacks are arranged near the outer edges of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Each of these regions harbor different enzymes and the cisternae carry certain structural proteins important for their own function. Now that you know the basics of the Golgi body function and structure, read on to find out which are the more precise Golgi apparatus functions mentioned below just for your information.

Function of the Golgi Body

• According to many scientific studies, the primary Golgi body functions are to modify the new proteins synthesized from the ER present in the cytoplasm, then process them and sort them for transportation. Let's take a look at the basic function of modification of the newly produced proteins.
• The process of modification of these proteins in the Golgi bodies includes, addition and deletion of certain groups to the newly formed proteins. There are attachments of some polysaccharides to form carbohydrates, cutting the protein molecules in smaller active fragments, incorporation of phosphates on the proteins, and addition of a sulfate group to these molecules.
• After this modification and processing of the newly formed proteins received from the ER, the Golgi bodies also transport them to the other vesicles in the cells via two transport models. These are Cisternal maturation model and the Vesicular transport model.
• Apart from modifying, processing and sorting these proteins, there are a few molecules which are synthesized by the Golgi apparatus on its own as well. These are none other than lysosomes, which are organelles that are required to digest dead components in the cell. They help the cell get rid of debris and complex sugars which are unwanted in the body.

With these interesting facts about the Golgi body functions hope this article has been of great help to you. The Golgi body is a very important cell organelle in our system and without it, no living cell can function appropriately.