Plant cells form the tissues of plants. They are similar to animal cells in that they have many organelles in common, but differ from them in that they have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and large vacuoles suited to the way of life of plants.
The Plant Cell and its Organelles
Plant cell and its organelles.
The plant cell differs from the animal cell , because although they have several organelles in common (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, among others), the plant cell has some specific organelles such as chloroplasts, which allow it to carry out photosynthesis.
Plastos
There are leucoplasts , colorless, which store starch and colored chromoplasts , which have pigments. One plastid can transform into the other.
Chloroplasts are the organelles responsible for carrying out photosynthesis . They contain the pigment chlorophyll, which gives them a green color and absorbs light, allowing the process to take place.
Structure of a chloroplast.
They are membranous organelles , which have their own DNA and are capable of self-replication . They have a structure similar to that of mitochondria, which is explained by scientists as an evolutionary mechanism of symbiosis between prokaryotes and eukaryotes (endosymbiotic theory).
Cell Wall
The cell wall or cellulosic wall is exterior to the plasmatic membrane that surrounds the cell. It is a more or less thick envelope, composed of a polysaccharide called cellulose .
Its function is to support the plant , which is why it is also called a skeletal cellulose membrane.
There are pores in cellulosic walls, through which very thin bridges of cytoplasm , called plasmodesmata , pass . Through plasmodesmata there is communication between the cytoplasm of neighboring cells.
Plant cells: enlargement to focus on the pores through which plasmodesmata pass.
Vacuoles
Vacuoles are spaces, surrounded by a membrane, in which substances such as sap can be stored, in addition, they have the function of regulating the pH and the entry of water , through osmotic control. With this, the vacuoles control the turgidity of the cell.
In young plants there are several smaller vacuoles that come together to form a single large vacuole as the plant develops.
Read too:
- animal and plant cell
- Cell Organelles
- Chloroplasts
- Photosynthesis
- Vegetal kingdom
- Botany: the study of plants
mitochondria
They are organelles composed of a double membrane, with many folds. Its function is to carry out cellular respiration, which produces most of the energy used in vital functions.
Learn more about Mitochondria: Structure, Function and Importance .
Endoplasmic reticulum
They are organelles whose membranes fold to form flattened sacs. There are 2 types of endoplasmic reticulum, smooth (agranular) and rough (granular).
The main function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is to carry out protein synthesis and transport proteins to other parts of the cell.
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) synthesizes lipids (fat) and transports them to different parts of the cell.
Learn more about Smooth and Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum .
Golgi apparatus
The Golgi complex is composed of flattened disks stacked together, forming membranous pockets (dictyosomes). Its functions are: to modify, store and export proteins synthesized in the RER. In addition, it gives rise to primary lysosomes.
lysosomes
Lysosomes are membrane-enclosed organelles that contain digestive enzymes . Its function is to digest organic molecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
For a long time, it was believed that there were no lysosomes in plant cells. However, in material made available by the University of São Paulo (USP), in the text on vacuoles, it is said that small vacuoles act as lysosomes in plant cells.
Therefore, it is important to emphasize the function of this well-known organelle in animal cells.
Peroxissomos
Peroxisomes are small organelles that contain oxidase enzymes inside . The main function is to oxidize the raw material of cellular respiration, whose reactions produce hydrogen peroxide and hence the name of the organelle
