How Does the Nucleus Maintain Homeostasis?
The nucleus starts the process of maintaining cell homeostasis by generating the protein RNA, or ribonucleic acid, which is released into a cell’s cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance that holds all the organelles in place. The RNA is gathered by the ribosomes, which replicate the protein as needed.
Homeostasis is the process of maintaining a constant internal environment. The cell membrane plays a big part in this by allowing chemicals and proteins to move into and out of the cell. It is the nucleus that governs how the organelles, or inner cell structures, behave.
Free-floating ribosomes create proteins that stay inside the cell. The ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, the cell’s “super factory,” are sometimes stored or shared with other cells.
When a cell gets too large, homeostasis is threatened. The cytoplasm grows faster than the cell membrane, and the solution is for the cell to divide. This triggers an increase in RNA production by the nucleus and protein production by the ribosomes.
Contact inhibition prevents a cell from dividing more than necessary, which would threaten homeostasis. Once the divided cells run out of space, a message is sent to the nucleus to reduce RNA production, stopping the division process.
