BIO-214 Lab #1: Plant Cells

List the Plant Cell Organelles & their functions

1. Nucleus

   • Enclosed in a double membrane

   • Nuclear pores: regulates communication with the surrounding cytosol

   • Stores DNA

2. Nucleolus

   • Structure within the nucleus

   • Produces ribosomes

3. Cytosol

   • Gel matrix where most of the cellular metabolism & where all the other cell organelles live

   • Contains water & proteins that control cell metabolism

     • Signal transduction pathways

     • Glycolysis

     • Intracellular receptors

     • Transcription factors

   • Cytoplasm

     • Collective term for the cytosol AND the organelles suspesned within the cytosol

4. Centrosome

   • Microtubule organizing center

   • Area where microtubules are produced

   • Centrosomes grow microtubules into a “spindle,” which is responsible for chromosome separation

5. Centriole

   1. NOT PRESENT IN PLANT CELLS

6. Golgi

   • Stack of membrane-bound vesicles that are important for cellular transport

7. Lysosome

   • contain hydrolyic enzymes necessary for intracellular digestion

8. Peroxisome

   • Responible for protecting the cell from its own production of toxic hydrogen peroxide

9. Sectory Vesicle

   • Transport cell secretions (hormones, neurotransmitters, proteins, etc) to the cell surface for release

10. Cell Membrane

    • Phospholipid bilayer

    • Protective barrier against uncontrolled flow of water

    • Contains:

      1. Proteins

         1. Receptors

         2. Pores

         3. Cell-to-cell communication

11. Mitocondrion

    • Produce ATP

    • Double-membraned

    • Cristae: inner foldings of the mitocondrion

      • Increase surface area for CELLULAR RESPIRATION

12. Vacuole

    1. Stores nutrients + waste products

    2. Helps increase cell size during growth

    3. Lyosome-like organelle for intracellular digestion

    4. Regulates Tugor Pressure

       1. Produces rigidity in plant cells

13. Cell Wall

    • Rigid protective cell wall made of polysacharrides (cellulose)

    • Function

      1. Provides & maintains the shape of these cells

      2. Protective barrier

      • Turgor pressure

14. Chloroplast

    • Contain chlorophyll pigment

      1. Green color

      2. Ability to absorb energy from sunlight

         • Photosynthesis

    • Double-membraned structure

    • Stroma: fluid inside the chloroplast

    • Thylakoids: coin-like structures inside the stroma

15. Smooth ER

    • Produces

      1. Steriod hormones

      2. Lipids

    • Breaks down lipid-soluble toxins in liver cells

    • Controls calcium release in muscle cells

16. Rough ER

    • Contains ribosomes on its surface

    • Protein synthesis

17. Ribosomes

    • Packets of RNA & protein

    • Site of protein synthesis

    • Consists of 2 parts

      1. Large subnit

      2. Small subnit

    • mRNA (nucleus) → ribosome → tRNA addes amino accids → protein chain is lengthened

18. Cytoskeleton

    • Function

      1. Maintains cell shape

      2. Cell motility

         • internal movement of cell organelles

         • Cell locomotion

         • Muscle fiber contractions

    • Made up of 2 primary protein filaments

      1. Microtubules

      2. Microfilaments (actin filaments)

      3. Intermediate fibers

How are plants physically different from animal cells?

Animal

1. Centrosomes

2. Lysosomes

Plant Cells

1. Cell Wall

2. Chloroplast

3. Plasmodesmata

4. Large Central vacuole

Which structures give plant cells physical protection & support?

Cell Wall: Rigid layer found outside the cell membrane

Which plant organelle is responsible for storage?

Central vacuole

Which organelles do plant cells use to produce the sugars they need to survive?

Chloroplasts

Identify which cells the following are:

Plant Cells

• Elodea cells

  1. Rigid cell wall

  2. Chloroplast structures

  3. Green pigment (chlorophyll)

Classify the following cells:

Plant Cell

• Rigid Cell walls

• Cells are very organized (matrix-like)

Animal Cell

• No rigid cell wall (flexible cell membrane only)

• Cells are scattered around