What is the function of the cell nucleus?

The function of the cell nucleus is to contain the genetic material or DNA. There are two types of cells, on the one hand, we find those that have a nucleus and on the other, those that do not. Cells that have a nucleus are called eukaryotes. The cell nucleus is considered one more organelle of eukaryotic cells that has its own function. In this lesson from a Teacher we will tell you what is the function of the cell nucleus.

The main function of the nucleus is to contain or store genetic material.. It is known as the "control center" of the cell, since it directs all cellular activities, DNA is in charge of controlling the production of proteins or genetic expression.

He dna is the genetic material contains hereditary information, is a molecule formed by two chains or strands that are curved in the form of a helix. Most of the DNA is found in the cell nucleus of eukaryotic cells, a small part is found in the mitochondria. The genetic material is based on a molecule composed of 4 nitrogenous bases arranged in different sequence.

These nitrogenous bases are linked to a sugar and a phosphate group, this compound formed by a base, a sugar and a phosphate is known as a nucleotide. The names of the nitrogenous bases are:

• Adenine (A)
• Guanine (G)
• Cytosine (C)
• Thymine (T)
• sugar is deoxyribose

The structure of DNA consists of two opposite strands of nucleotides., thanks to the fact that the nitrogenous bases complement each other, guanine is linked with cytosine and thymine with guanine. The final result of the molecule is similar to a spiral staircase, where the opposite bases would represent the steps and the sugars and phosphate groups would represent the handrail.

We can say that the main function of the nucleus is to contain or store the genetic material or DNA. It also allows the passage or transport of molecules between its interior and the cytoplasm for this to happen. Within the cell nucleus, information is transcribed DNA to RNA. This RNA is known as messenger RNA, it is a copy of one of the DNA strands, the mRNA has the ability to leave the cell nucleus towards the cytoplasm, there the translation of the genetic code occurs, that is, the RNA genetic code is “read” by the ribosomes to synthesize or manufacture proteins.

In the eukaryotic cellsThe nucleus contains the genetic material. Let's see what is the cell nucleus and its parts.

nuclear envelope

The nucleus is made up of membranes of the same nature than the cell membrane, also known as the lipid bilayer. This envelope or nuclear membrane consists of a double phospholipid layer that surrounds the DNA or genetic material, separating it from the rest of the cytoplasm. The envelope or nuclear membrane has an intermembranous space, known as perinuclear space, above we find the outer membrane and towards the center, the inner membrane, another characteristic of the nuclear envelope is that it has pores.

Nuclear pores allow the transport of compounds and substances from the nucleus outward. The internal aqueous environment of the nucleus is called nucleoplasm, there we can find the genetic material or DNA in the form of chromatin and nucleoli.

nucleoplasm

He nucleoplasm It is the internal environment of the nucleus, it is a gel-like colloidal substance that contains water, ions, proteins, and RNA and DNA nucleotides. It has a network structure formed by fibrillar proteins, which regulate the movement of substances within it.

nucleolus

The nucleoli have a spherical shape, they are RNA molecules associated with histones, they are responsible for manufacturing ribosomal RNA, essential for protein synthesis. Within the nucleus we find DNA in the form of chromatin...

chromatin

Consists of strands of DNA, these filaments can be found in different degrees of condensation. When the DNA is in the form of chromatin, it is decondensed, we can imagine it as an unarmed ball of wool. This occurs after mitosis, or cell division. When the cell organizes itself for its division, the chromatin condenses forming structures known as chromosomes.

chromosomes

Chromosomes are rod-shaped DNA takes this form to duplicate the genetic material found in the nucleus and divide equally during cell reproduction. Proteins known as histones are responsible for the chromatin to condense and form chromosomes, which allow the folding of chromatin. The somatic cells of individuals of the same species have the same number of chromosomes, this only varies from species to species. Human beings have 46 chromosomes in our cells.

A chromosome It is made up of two identical strands of DNA, known as sister chromatids, which are held together by a centromere. This shape facilitates the distribution of genetic material at the time of cell division or mitosis.

Image: Parts of

Rojas-Lemus, M. and Milan-Chavez R. 2016. “The boundaries between histology and biochemistry: looking at the cell nucleus”. Magazine of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM.