Definition: The cellular organelle in eukaryotes that contains the genetic material.

The major components of the nucleus are chromosomes, chromatin, which are dense strands of nucleoprotein fibers holding the genetic material of the cell, and the nuclear matrix, which is a protein-containing fibrillar network. Nucleoli are electron-dense structures that function in the synthesis of ribosomes and rRNA. The fluid suspension of the nucleus is called the nucleoplasm, in which the solutes of the nucleus are dissolved.

Components

 nucleoplasm

Features

 functional compartmentalization of the nucleus

References

 Stein GS, Zaidi SK, Braastad CD, Montecino M, van Wijnen AJ, Choi JY, Stein JL, Lian JB, Javed A. Functional architecture of the nucleus : organizing the regulatory machinery for gene expression, replication and repair. Trends Cell Biol. 2003 Nov ;13(11):584-92. PMID : #14573352#

 Carmo-Fonseca M, Platani M, Swedlow JR. Macromolecular mobility inside the cell nucleus. Trends Cell Biol. 2002 Nov;12(11):491-5. PMID: #12446102#