Functions of Inclusion Bodies
It performs various functions depending on the type of organism and the specific inclusion body. Some common functions of inclusion body are given below:
- Protection: Inclusion bodies store harmful substances to prevent them from causing damage to the cell. For instance, polyphosphate granules in bacteria can sequester heavy metals, thereby protecting the cell from metal toxicity.
- Storage: Inclusion bodies can serve as reservoirs for storing nutrients, energy reserves, or metabolic by-products.
- Metabolic Regulation: Inclusion bodies can regulate metabolic pathways by isolating key enzymes or substrates. This helps in controlling the rates of certain metabolic processes within the cell.
- Structural Support: Inclusion bodies can provide structural support to cells or tissues. For example, the crystalline inclusion bodies in cyanobacteria provide structural rigidity to the cell.
- Protection Against Desiccation: Inclusion bodies like lipid droplets in some organisms serve to store lipids that can be used as a source of energy during periods of nutrient scarcity or to protect against desiccation.
- Pathogen Defense: Inclusion bodies can sequester and degrade foreign materials, including pathogens, thereby contributing to the immune response of the organism.
Inclusion Bodies
Inclusion bodies are also known as cytoplasmic inclusions, cell inclusions, or elementary bodies. Some inclusion bodies examples are Negri bodies, Lewy bodies, etc. They are found floating in the cytoplasm. These are usually formed in the cells if they experience stress or are infected. Inclusion bodies class 11 is an important topic in the biology syllabus.
The general features of inclusion bodies depict the inclusion bodies as being acidophilic. Inclusion bodies can be classified as to where and how they are formed. In this article, we will read about the Inclusion bodies meaning, features, functions, and diseases involving inclusion bodies.
Table of Content
- What are Inclusion Bodies?
- General Features of Inclusion Bodies in Cell
- Functions of Inclusion Bodies
- Classification of Inclusion Bodies
- Inclusion Bodies Examples
- Diseases Associated With Inclusion Bodies
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