Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780815344322
Author: Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
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Chapter 12, Problem 1P
Summary Introduction

To examine:  Whether the statement “Like the lumen of the ER, the interior of the nucleus is topologically equivalent to the outside of the cell” is true or false.

Concept introduction: The nucleus and the endoplasmic reticulum are membrane bound organelles which are always in close contact with each other. The nuclear membrane is the continuation of the ER membrane. The endoplasmic reticulum(ER) is the site of protein sorting, site of production of lipids and site of post translational modification of secretary proteins. The nucleus is the site of replication, transcription, DNA repair and recombination.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1P

Correct answer: The statement is false.

Explanation of Solution

The cells’ internal compartments will have two environments: the cytosolic environment and the luminal environment or the exoplasmic environment. The lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, golgi complex is also called as the exoplasmic environment as it is similar to the extracellular matrix of the cell. During internal membrane evolution of the primitive prokaryotes which gave rise to the first compartmentalized eukaryotes, the lipid bilayer surrounded the genetic material and the nucleus was formed. Thus, the nucleoplasm is continuous with the cytoplasm and there is constant inflow and outflow of ions between them. On the other hand, the plasma membrane invaginated and formed the organelles like ER and golgi complex. Therefore, the lumen of these membrane bound organelles resembles the outside of the cell that is the extracellular matrix.

Conclusion
 Based on the evolution of the nucleus and the endoplasmic reticulum, their interior topology does not match.  Hence, the statement is false.

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