In an eukaryotic cell, the nucleus is a membrane bound organelle
that contain most of the genetic material of a cell. An eukaryotic
cell has a single nucleus, but in cells such as red blood cells,
nucleus is not present. Some cells such as human skeletal muscle
cells and fungi have more than one nucleus.
The nucleus consists of nuclear envelope, pores, nucleoplasm,
nuclear lamina, chromosomes, nucleolus and subnuclear bodies.
- Nuclear envelope - The nuclear envelope
encloses the nucleus and separates the cell's genetic material from
the surrounding cytoplasm.
- Pores - Nuclear pores are aqueous channels
through the envelope, into which molecules diffuse.
- Nucleoplasm - Nucleoplasm is the viscous
liquid found inside a nucleus that is similar in composition to the
cytosol found outside the nucleus.
- Nuclear lamina - The nuclear lamina forms a
meshwork on the internal face of the envelope that provides
mechanical suppot to the nucleus.
- Chromosomes - The majority of genetic material
of a cell is in the form of multiple linear DNA molecules organized
into structures called chromosomes.
- Nucleolus - The nucleolus synthesizes rRNA and
assembles ribosomes.
- Subnuclear bodies - Subnuclear bodies of the
nucleus include Cajal bodies, Gemini of coiled bodies, polymorphic
interphase karyosomal association (PIKA), promyelocytic leukaemia
(PML) bodies, paraspeckles, and splicing speckles.