Plant Cells Flashcards
List the structures that plant cells have that animal cells do not
- Cell wall
- Middle lamella
- Plasmodesmata
- Pits
- Chloroplast
- Amyloplast
- Vacuole + Tonoplast
What is a cell wall?
Rigid structure surrounding plant cells
What is the cell wall made of in plants?
Cellulose
What is the function of the cell wall?
Supports plant cells
What is the middle lamella?
The outmost layer of the cell made of calcium pectate
What is the function of the middle lamella?
- Adhesive - sticks adjacent plant cells together
- Gives plants stability
What is the plasmodesmata?
Channels in the cell wall that link adjacent cells cytoplasm together
What is the purpose of the plasmodesmata?
Allows transport of substances and communication between cells
What are the pits?
Regions of the cell wall where the wall is very thin - lines up to pits in the adjacent cell
What is the purpose of the pits?
Allows transport of substances between cells
Describe the chloroplast
- A small flattened structure
- Surrounded by double membrane
What does the chloroplast contain?
- Thylakoid membranes: stacked up to form grana
- Stroma: thick fluid
- Lamellae that link grana
What is the vacuole?
Compartment containing cell sap of water and mineral ions
What is the tonoplast?
Membrane that surrounds the vacuole
What are the 2 purposes of the vacuole?
- Keeps cells turgid
- Involved in breakdown and isolation of unwanted chemicals in cell
What is the purpose of the tonoplast?
Controls what enters and leaves the vacuole
What is the amyloplast?
Small organelle enclosed by a membrane
What are the two purposes of the amyloplast?
- Storage and production of starch grains
- Converts starch back to glucose for energy release
List the structures of a chloroplast 9
- DNA loop
- Oil droplets
- Inner membrane
- Thylakoids
- Granum
- Thylakoid space
- Stroma
- Starch gain
- Outer membrane
Describe the thylakoid 2
- Contains chlorophyll
- Flattened fluid sacs
What property does the thylakoid have adapting it to its function?
Large surface area allows light energy to be absorbed
Describe the thylakoid space
Fluid within chloroplast
Describe the stroma
Gel like fluid surrounding membrane, contains enzymes, sugars and organic acids needed for light independent reaction
Describe the outer membrane of the chloroplast
Freely permeable wall to molecules of CO2 and H2O
Why does the chloroplast have a double membrane?
To keep photosynthesis reactants close to reactant sites
What are granum?
Stack of thylakoids joined together
What is the DNA loop in the chloroplast?
Contains genes needed for some proteins
Describe the inner membrane of a chloroplast 2
- Contains many transporter molecules
- Membrane proteins regulate passage of substances in and out of chloroplast inc. sugars and proteins synthesised in cytoplasm used in chloroplasts
What do oil droplets in the chloroplasts?
Store non carbohydrate organic material
