CELLULAR

STRUCTURE
Chapter 4
THE CELL WALL
 The most important distinguishing features of plant cells is
the presence of cell wall. The cell wall serves a variety of
functions, namely;
 Along with protecting the intracellular contents, the structure
bestows rigidity to the plant;
 It provides a porous medium for the circulation and
distribution of water, minerals, and other nutrients;
 Houses specialized molecules that regulate growth;
 Acts filtering mechanism for substance getting into the cell;
and
 Protect the plant from disease.
Cell wall
 Cell wall are significantly thicker than a plasma
membranes and were visible even to early
microscopists.
 Robert Hooke identified the structures in a
sample of cork and coined the term cells.
 Cell compose of primary cell wall, Secondary
cell wall and middle lamellae.
Plasma Membrane
 Specifically the plasma membrane is the thin
molecular layer that surrounds all living cells.
 It separates the cell from its surroundings.
 Protects it from changes in the physical
environment.
 Regulates the traffic of molecules into and
out of the cell.
The phospholipid Bilayer
 The plasma membrane composed of lipids
and proteins.
 Most of the lipids in the plasma membrane
are of a specific type known as phospholipid.
 A phospholipid molecule has a head region at
one end that is hydrophilic (it can mix with
water).
 At the other end are the two log tails that are
hydrophobic.
Functions of Plasma Membrane

 The plasma membrane forms an extremely effective seal

around the cell.
 A cell uses two methods to move such substances from one
side of the plasma membrane to another, known as passive
transport and active transport. Both of these process involve
proteins, acting as carriers in the plasma membrane.
The Cytoskeleton
 Cytoskeleton is a cellular scaffolding contained
within cytoplasm.
 It is a mesh-like network of fine rods and tiny
tubes of protein.
 Cytoskeleton contains Microtubules,
Microfilaments and Intermediate Filament.
 It anchors organelles in place.
 Organize and maintain cell’s shape.
 Helps during endocytosis and cytokinesis.
Cytoskeleton Components
 MICROTUBULES – cylindrical polymers of tubulin which are
long hollow cylinders.
 Microtubules are hollow tubes that serve both to structure cells
and to conduct substances from one part of a cell to another.
 MICROFILAMENTS – it is a tiny rod made of protein actin.
Microfilaments are about a third as thick as microtubules, and they
are solid rather than a hollow cylinders.
 INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS – it is the result of the
breakdown of the microtubules and microfilaments when treated
with harsh environment. These are thought to provide scaffolding
in the cell because they are seen in parts of the cell under structural
tension.