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Related Concept Videos

Cell Inclusions01:27

Cell Inclusions

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Prokaryotic cells possess a variety of inclusions that play crucial roles in nutrient storage, metabolic processes, and environmental adaptation. These structures enable bacteria to thrive under fluctuating environmental conditions by storing essential resources and optimizing their metabolic efficiency.Carbon Storage: Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid and Glycogen GranulesBacteria frequently store excess carbon in specialized granules. Poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) granules are lipid...
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Additional Subnuclear Structures02:10

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The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals. 
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles,...
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The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

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The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
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Classification of Leukocytes01:30

Classification of Leukocytes

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Leukocytes are classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of cytoplasmic granules. Granular leukocytes, which contain granules, belong to the myeloid lineage and are divided into three subtypes: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. These cells are roughly spherical and characterized by the granules in their cytoplasm.
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Vesicular Tubular Clusters01:45

Vesicular Tubular Clusters

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After budding out from the ER membrane, some COPII vesicles lose their coat and fuse with one another to form larger vesicles and interconnected tubules called vesicular tubular clusters or VTCs. These clusters constitute a compartment at the ER-Golgi interface known as ERGIC (Endoplasmic Reticulum Golgi Intermediate Compartment). The ERGIC is a mobile membrane-bound cargo transport system that sorts proteins secreted from ER and delivers them to the Golgi.
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Eukaryotic Compartmentalization01:37

Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

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One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry out specialized functions. Since biological membranes are only selectively permeable to solutes, they help create a compartment with controlled conditions inside an organelle. These microenvironments are tailored to the organelle's specific functions and help isolate them from the surrounding cytosol.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules
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RNA granules: functional compartments or incidental condensates?

Andrea Putnam1, Laura Thomas1, Geraldine Seydoux2

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.

Genes & Development
|May 3, 2023
PubMed
Summary

RNA granules, cellular compartments for RNA processing, may form as non-functional by-products when ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes exceed solubility. Distinguishing functional granules from incidental condensates is key.

Keywords:
RNA granulescondensatesphase separationribonucleoprotein complexes

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • RNA granules are membrane-less cellular structures involved in RNA metabolism.
  • They are often considered specialized compartments for RNA processing and regulation.
  • Recent models propose RNA granule formation via liquid-liquid phase separation of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether some RNA granules are nonessential condensation by-products.
  • To differentiate between functionally important RNA granules and "incidental condensates."

Main Methods:

  • Evolutionary analyses
  • Mutational analyses
  • Single-molecule techniques

Main Results:

  • The study explores the hypothesis that RNA granules can form incidentally when RNP complexes exceed their solubility limit.
  • Methods are presented to distinguish between functional RNA granules and incidental condensates.

Conclusions:

  • Some RNA granules may not be essential functional compartments but rather by-products of cellular conditions.
  • Distinguishing functional from incidental RNA granules is crucial for understanding their roles in cell biology.