Vesicles

Vesicles are small, enclosed sacs that are separated from the cytosol by at least one lipid bilayer. They are a basic tool used by the cell for organizing cellular substances. Vesicles are involved in metabolism, transport, buoyancy control, and enzyme storage. They can also act as chemical reaction chambers.

Structure

Vesicles are composed of a lipid bilayer membrane, and the insides are aqueous. They are formed through a process called vesicle budding. The lipid bilayer will curve, forming a sphere and eventually pinching off to form a separate, smaller lipid bilayer structure. These can then be transported around the cell by motor proteins on the cytoskeleton.

Function

Vesicles perform a variety of functions. They are key elements in the processes of membrane transport and protein sorting. They are the basic tool used by the cell for organizing cellular substances, and are critical in metabolism, transport, buoyancy control, and enzyme storage. Vesicles can also act as chemical reaction chambers.

Types of Vesicles

There are many types of vesicles, including:

• Vacuoles
• Lysosomes
• Transport Vesicles
• Secretory Vesicles
• Peroxisomes
• Endosomes
• Extracellular Vesicles
• Synaptic Vesicles

See Also

• Cell (biology)
• Endomembrane system
• Membrane transport
• Protein targeting
• Secretion

References

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