Golgi

Golgi Apparatus

The Golgi apparatus, also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply Golgi, is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. It was identified in 1897 by the Italian scientist Camillo Golgi, and is named after him.

Structure and Function

The Golgi apparatus is involved in the transport of lipids around the cell, and the creation of lysosomes. It is made up of a series of flattened, stacked pouches called cisternae. The structure of the Golgi apparatus is integral to its function. Vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fuse with the cis face of the Golgi apparatus (the side closest to the ER) and empty their contents into the lumen. As proteins and lipids travel through the Golgi, they undergo further modifications that allow them to be sorted for delivery to their final destinations.

Role in Disease

Defects in the Golgi apparatus function can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases. In these diseases, the Golgi apparatus becomes fragmented, which disrupts cellular transport and leads to cell death.

See Also

• Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Lysosome
• Eukaryotic Cells
• Camillo Golgi
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Parkinson's Disease
• Neurodegenerative Diseases