Organellami

Organellami is not a standard term in cell biology. In Italian scientific usage, the structural subunits within eukaryotic cells are called organelli (singular organello). The form organellami may appear as a nonstandard or coined expression meaning “my organelles” or a stylized title, but it is not used in formal terminology. This article uses the established term organelli.

Organelli are specialized structures within cells that carry out distinct tasks essential to life. Many organelli are bounded by membranes, forming distinct compartments, while others are non-membrane-bound elements that reside in the cytoplasm. Membrane-bound organelli include the nucleus, which stores genetic material and coordinates gene expression; mitochondria, which generate ATP; chloroplasts in plants and algae, which perform photosynthesis; the endoplasmic reticulum for protein synthesis and lipid metabolism; the Golgi apparatus for protein modification and trafficking; lysosomes and peroxisomes for breakdown and detoxification; and vacuoles for storage and osmotic balance. Ribosomes and the cytoskeleton are notable non-membrane-bound components; ribosomes synthesize proteins, and the cytoskeleton provides structural support and enables movement.

Many organelli trace their origins to ancient symbiotic relationships, with mitochondria and, in plants and algae, chloroplasts possessing their own circular DNA and double membranes, consistent with the endosymbiotic theory. In prokaryotic cells, typical membrane-bound organelli are absent, though cells compartmentalize processes through membrane infoldings and functional regions.

Disruption of organelli function is linked to numerous diseases, including mitochondrial disorders, lysosomal storage diseases, and various neurodegenerative conditions. Understanding organelli structure and dynamics is central to cell biology, development, and medicine.