Organellats

Organellats are hypothetical or theoretical structures within a cell that are analogous to organelles but are not considered true organelles. The term "organellat" is not widely established in mainstream cell biology literature and is more likely to appear in speculative discussions or as a term for entities that exhibit some, but not all, of the defining characteristics of an organelle. True organelles are membrane-bound compartments within eukaryotic cells that perform specific functions. They possess their own lipid bilayer membranes, distinguishing them from other cellular components like ribosomes or protein complexes.

The concept of an organellat might arise when considering structures that are functionally specialized but lack the definitive membrane enclosure. For instance, a particularly stable and complex protein assembly that carries out a discrete metabolic process could be informally referred to as an organellat by some researchers if they wish to emphasize its functional organization without strictly adhering to the membrane-bound definition. Another context could be in the study of early cellular evolution or the development of novel synthetic cellular systems, where structures might be engineered or observed that blur the lines between simple molecular assemblies and fully formed organelles. The distinction between an organellat and a distinct molecular complex or functional domain within a larger organelle would depend on the specific context and the criteria being applied. Ultimately, the term suggests a degree of cellular organization and functional specialization that falls short of the established definition of an organelle.