GolgiApparate

GolgiApparate, also known as the Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex, is a central organelle in the eukaryotic secretory pathway. It consists of a series of flattened, membrane-bound sacs called cisternae, typically located near the nucleus and the endoplasmic reticulum. The organelle shows polarization with a cis face receiving cargo from the ER and a trans face shipping processed material to other destinations.

The primary functions of the GolgiApparate are to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids for delivery to their correct destinations. Common post-translational modifications occurring here include glycosylation, sulfation, and proteolytic processing. It also participates in lipid metabolism and the synthesis of complex polysaccharides in plant cell walls. After processing, cargo is packaged into vesicles that bud from the trans Golgi network and are targeted to the plasma membrane, lysosomes, or secretion pathways.

Transport within the GolgiApparate is achieved by two main models: vesicular transport, where cargo moves between stable cisternae, and cisternal maturation, where cisternae themselves mature from cis to trans. Coat protein complexes such as COPII, COPI, and clathrin, along with tethering factors and SNAREs, coordinate vesicle formation and fusion.

Evolutionarily, the GolgiApparate is present in most eukaryotes, though its organization varies among species. Disruption of Golgi function can lead to cellular stress and diseases, including congenital disorders of glycosylation and certain neurodegenerative conditions.