GOLGI COMPLEX

Size & Shape:

• Made up of an orderly stack of flattened, membranous layers, known as cisternae. A typical Golgi complex is made up of 8 cisternae.
• The cisternae have a diameter of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.
• Individual Golgi stacks connect to form a ribbon-like structure.
  

Location:

• Located within the cytoplasm
• Often situated near the Endoplasmic Reticulum
  

Function:

The Golgi apparatus is essentially a protein ‘packaging plant.’ The structure is divided into two functional components: the cis Golgi network and the trans Golgi network. Proteins synthesized by the endoplasmic reticulum enter the cis Golgi network, where they are either sent back to the endoplasmic reticulum or sent onto the next Golgi network. The proteins enter the trans Golgi network where they are segregated into different directions, either heading towards the plasma membranes or other cellular locations. In short, the Golgi complex assists in the modification of newly synthesized proteins. In particular, this organelle is also responsible for the assembly of the sugar portion of the glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Related Organelles: Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum