Zusammenfassung der Ressource
10.4 Plant Cell Structure
- Leaf Palisade Cell
- Function: to carry out
photosynthesis.
- The features that suit it for its
function include:
- ♦ Long, thin cells that form a
continuous layer to absorb sunlight.
- ♦ Lots of chloroplasts arranged
to best collect sunlight.
- ♦ A large vacuole that pushes
the cytoplasm and chloroplasts
to the edge of the cell.
- Cell Wall
- The cell wall consists of microfibrils of the
polysaccharide cellulose embedded in a matrix.
- Cell walls have the
following features:
- ♦ A number of polysaccharides,
such as cellulose.
- ♦ The 'middle lamella', a thin layer
between adjacent cell walls which
cements them together.
- Functions of the cell wall are:
- ♦ To prevent the cell bursting
under the pressure created by
the osmotic entry of water.
- ♦ To give mechanical strength
to the plant.
- ♦ Allow water to pass along it.
- Cellulose
microfibrils are
very strong.
- Chloroplasts
- Disc-shaped, 2-10μ long and 1μm in
diameter. Their main features are:
- ♦ The Chloroplast Envelope - a double
plasma membrane. It selects what comes
in and out of the chloroplast.
- ♦ The Grana - are stacks of up to 100
thylakoids, which contain chlorophyll. 1st
stage of photosynthesis takes place here.
- ♦ The Stroma - a fluid-filled matrix.
Contains starch grains. 2nd stage of
photosynthesis takes place here.
- Chloroplasts are adapted to their function of
carrying out photosynthesis in the following
ways:
- ♦ The granal membranes provide a large
surface area for the attachment of chlorophyll,
electron carriers and enzymes that carry out
the 1st stage of photosynthesis.
- ♦ The fluid of the stroma has all the enzymes
needed for the 2nd stage.
- ♦ Chloroplasts contain DNA and ribosomes so
they can quickly and easily manufacture some
of the proteins needed for photosynthesis.
- Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells:
- Plant Cells
- Cellulose cell wall &
cell-surface membrane.
- Vast amounts of chloroplasts.
- Have a large, single, central
vacuole filled with cell sap.
- Starch grains are used for storage.
- Animal Cells
- Only cell-surface membrane.
- No chloroplasts.
- If vacuoles are present they
are small and scattered around.
- Glycogen granules are used
for storage.