Plant Cell

PLANT
CELL
Plants are unique among the eukaryotes, organisms
whose cells have membrane-enclosed nuclei and
organelles, because they can manufacture their own
food. Chlorophyll, which gives plants their green
color, enables them to use sunlight to convert water
and carbon dioxide into sugars and carbohydrates,
chemicals the cell uses for fuel.
o The plant cell is enclosed by a plasma membrane, which forms
a selective barrier allowing nutrients to enter and waste
products to leave.
o Unlike other eukaryotes, however, plant cells have a rigid cell
wall surrounding the plasma membrane.
o The cytoplasm contains specialized organelles, each of which
is surrounded by a membrane.
o Plant cells differ from animal cells in that they lack centrioles
and organelles for locomotion (cilia and flagella)
o Chloroplasts convert light to chemical energy
o A single large vacuole acts as a water reservoir
o Nucleus: contains all the genetic information necessary for cell
growth and reproduction.
 Cell Wall - Like their prokaryotic ancestors, plant
cells have a rigid wall surrounding the plasma
membrane. It is a far more complex structure,
however, and serves a variety of functions, from
protecting the cell to regulating the life cycle of
the plant organism.
 Chloroplasts - The most important characteristic
of plants is their ability to photosynthesize, in
effect, to make their own food by converting light
energy into chemical energy. This process is
carried out in specialized organelles called
chloroplasts.
 Endoplasmic Reticulum - The endoplasmic
reticulum is a network of sacs that manufactures,
processes, and transports chemical compounds for
use inside and outside of the cell. It is connected to
the double-layered nuclear envelope, providing a
pipeline between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In
plants, the endoplasmic reticulum also connects
between cells via the plasmodesmata.
 Golgi Apparatus - The Golgi apparatus is the
distribution and shipping department for the cell's
chemical products. It modifies proteins and fats
built in the endoplasmic reticulum and prepares
them for export as outside of the cell.
 Microfilaments - Microfilaments are solid rods
made of globular proteins called actin. These
filaments are primarily structural in function and
are an important component of the cytoskeleton.
 Microtubules - These straight, hollow cylinders
are found throughout the cytoplasm of all
eukaryotic cells (prokaryotes don't have them) and
carry out a variety of functions, ranging from
transport to structural support.
 Mitochondria - Mitochondria are oblong shaped
organelles found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic
cells. In plant cells, they break down carbohydrate and
sugar molecules to provide energy, particularly when
light isn't available for the chloroplasts to produce
energy.
 Nucleus - The nucleus is a highly specialized
organelle that serves as the information processing and
administrative center of the cell. This organelle has
two major functions: it stores the cell's hereditary
material, or DNA, and it coordinates the cell's
activities, which include growth, intermediary
metabolism, protein synthesis, and reproduction (cell
division).
 Peroxisomes - Microbodies are a diverse group of
organelles that are found in the cytoplasm, roughly
spherical and bound by a single membrane. There
are several types of microbodies but peroxisomes
are the most common.
 Plasmodesmata - Plasmodesmata are small tubes
that connect plant cells to each other, providing
living bridges between cells.
 Plasma Membrane - All living cells have a
plasma membrane that encloses their contents. In
prokaryotes and plants, the membrane is the inner
layer of protection surrounded by a rigid cell wall.
These membranes also regulate the passage of
molecules in and out of the cells.
 Ribosomes - All living cells contain ribosomes,
tiny organelles composed of approximately 60
percent RNA and 40 percent protein. In
eukaryotes, ribosomes are made of four strands of
RNA. In prokaryotes, they consist of three strands
of RNA.
 Vacuole - Each plant cell has a large, single
vacuole that stores compounds, helps in plant
growth, and plays an important structural role for
the plant.
CHLOROPLAST
Chloroplasts have their own DNA, often abbreviated as cpDNA. It is also
known as the plastome when referring to genomes of other plastids.
Chloroplast DNA
 Descended from ancient cyanobacteria, chloroplasts--like mitochondria--have DNA

separate from the nuclear genome
This genetic material is known as chloroplast DNA or cpDNA. The chloroplas
genome is also known as the plastome. Chloroplast DNA
 is double-stranded
 was once thought to be circular, but now believed to often exist in branched, linear
form
 range size from 120 - 170 kilobases
 present in multiple, separate copies (not all of them complete copies of the genome)
 is present in more copies in young leaves (~100 copies) than in older leaves (~15-20
copies)
 encodes tRNA and rRNA that function in the chloroplast
 encodes proteins that often require components from the nuclear genes to become
functional
 Chloroplast DNA is usually--but not always--maternally inherited
In some cases, chloroplast DNA is transmitted to offspring via the pollen (male
gametophyte).
MITROCHONDRIA
Mitochondrial DNA
 Descended from ancient prokaryotes, mitochondria have their own DNA,
separate from the nuclear genome. This genetic material is known
as mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA. The mitochondrial genome encodes products
necessary for mitochondrial function.
 Thirteen mtDNA genes encode enzymes necessary for oxidative phosphorylation
 The remaining genes encode
 tRNAs
 rRNAs
 that function within the mitochondrion.
 Mitochondrial DNA is double-stranded, usually circular (similar to bacterial
DNA), rarely linear (in some species), relatively small in animals (~11,000 -
28,000 base pairs long)
 variable in size in fungi and plants (1500 - 11,000,000 base pairs long!)
 side note: 1000 base pairs = one kilobase
 present in multiple (100 - 10,000/somatic cell) separate copies
 evolving more rapidly than nuclear DNA...
 ...and so is often employed in evolutionary research.

Plant Cell

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PLANT

 Descended from ancient cyanobacteria, chloroplasts--like mitochondria--have DNA

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