Inside of an Animal and Plant Cell

Standards GPS/QCC #1 - SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells. a. Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the cell membrane, in maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction. b. Explain how enzymes function as catalysts. c. Identify the function of the four major macromolecules (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids).

Animal Cell

Animal Cell An animal cell is a very complicated system. However, with some focus and studying, anyone can learn what the different parts of the animal cell do. Here are some of the more notable components of an animal cell, along with the function that they perform:

Animal Cell Golgi Apparatus: This primary function of this cell structure is to process the proteins which are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Once the Golgi apparatus has processed the proteins, they can end up as integral membrane proteins in the plasma membrane, as a part of lysosomes or secreted by exocytosis. Endoplasmic Reticulum: As you learned when you read about the Golgi apparatus above, one of the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum is to synthesize proteins. However, this is not the only function of this cell structure. The endoplasmic reticulum is also responsible for manufacturing most of the membranes of the cell, as well as lipids.

Animal Cell Additionally, as you may have noticed in the diagram above, there are actually two types of endoplasmic reticulum. The main function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum is protein synthesis (the ribosomes on the surface of this type of endoplasmic reticulum are why it is called rough), while the main function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (which does not have ribosomes on its surface) is to synthesize lipids. Plasma Membrane: Like other cells, animal cells have a plasma membrane. This cell structure serves as the interface between the machinery in the interior of the cell and the extracellular fluid that bathes the animal cell.

Plant Cell

Differences between the Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus, bound by a double membrane. Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus. Eukaryotic DNA is linear; prokaryotic DNA is circular (it has no ends). Both cell types have many, many ribosomes, but the ribosomes of the eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex than those of the prokaryotic cell.

Continued.. The cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is filled with a large, complex collection of organelles, many of them enclosed in their own membranes; the prokaryotic cell contains no membrane-bound organelles which are independent of the plasma membrane. There is much more space within a eukaryotic cell than within a prokaryotic cell, and many of these structures, like the nucleus, increase the efficiency of functions by confining them within smaller spaces within the huge cell, or with communication and movement within the cell.

Plant Cell Plant cells have unique features that facilitate the process of photosynthesis. Through photosynthesis sunlight, water and carbon dioxide are transformed into energy, water and oxygen. This is an important process for the support of all forms of life. The structure of the plant cell includes cellulose, chloroplasts, chlorophyll and vacuoles. Plasma membrane, nucleus, nucleolus and mitochondria are also included in the structure of a plant cell. The endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and microtubules are other features of the plant cell.

Plant Cell The plant cell is protected from the surrounding environment by the cell wall and cell membrane. Note that these two are surface structures and not cell organelles. They not only give shape, support, and strength to the cell, but also aid in transportation. When it comes to the organelles found in a plant cell, they are more or less similar to animal cells, except that the latter lacks chloroplasts, that are responsible for photosynthesis. Following is a list of organelles found in plant cell.

Enzymes Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze chemical reactions. Almost all enzymes are proteins. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, the products. Almost all processes in a biological cell need enzymes to occur at significant rates. Since enzymes are selective for their substrates and speed up only a few reactions from among many possibilities, the set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell.

Macromolecules Carbohydrates-Energy storage, receptors, structure of plant cell wall Lipids-Membrane structure, energy storage, insulation Proteins-Enzymes, structure, receptors, transport, and more Nucleic Acids-Information storage and transfer

http://www.bozemanscience.com/043-cellular-organelles