Unveiling the Intricacies of Golgi Bodies: Structure and Function

The Golgi bodies, also known as Golgi complex or Golgi apparatus, are smooth membranes that are stacked into flattened, fluid-filled sacs called cisternae. They were first discovered by the Italian scientist Camillo Golgi in 1898, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Golgi bodies are present in virtually all eukaryotic cells.

In terms of structure, Golgi bodies consist of tightly packed smooth vesicles arranged in a parallel or semicircular array. The outer vesicles are flat, while the inner ones tend to be more extended, which is a characteristic feature of this organelle when it is metabolically active.

The main function of Golgi bodies is to store the products secreted by the cell in secreting cells. These secretions are passed from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex, and then eventually transported outside the cell. For example, in the mammalian pancreas, granules containing digestive enzymes are secreted. Golgi complex plays a role in the formation of these granules. Proteins synthesized by the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) are transferred to the Golgi complex, where additional carbohydrates may be added, converting them into glycoproteins or glycolipids. The Golgi complex is also the site of synthesis of polysaccharides, such as mucus.