Organelles of the plant cell and their functions

1. INTRODUCTION

The plant cell has 18 different types of organelles¹ with specialized functions.

Below you can find a list will all of them (plant cell organelles and their functions) with and image/diagram to help you visualize where they are and how they look within the cell.

2. ORGANELLES OF THE PLANT CELL AND THEIR FUNCTION

1. Plasma membrane: Separates the cell from its environment; regulates the movement of materials in and out of the cell.
2. Mitochondria: Oxidize ATP.
3. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER): Protein synthesis.
4. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER): Synthesis of lipids; Drug metabolism.
5. Nuclear envelope: Segregates chromatin (DNA + Protein) from the cytoplasm.
6. Nucleolus: Synthesis of ribosomal RNA.
7. Nucleus: Contains the genes (chromatin).
8. Golgi Complex: Processes, packages and distributes proteins to other organelles for export.
9. Cell wall: It confers shape and rigidity; protects the cell from osmotic swelling.
10. Cytoskeleton: Structural support of cells; facilitates the movement of organelles.
11. Glioxisome: Contains the enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle.
12. Ribosomes: Protein synthesis.
13. Plasmodesmata: They allow the passage between two vegetal cells.
14. Vacuole: Degrades and recycles macromolecules and stores metabolites.
15. Thylakoids: They synthesize the ATP through light energy.
16. Starch grain: Temporary carbohydrate store, photosynthesis producer.
17. Chloroplast: Stores solar energy, produces ATP and carbohydrates.
18. Peroxisome: They are involved in the catabolism of fatty acids.

Plant cell organelles (image/diagram).

3. RELATED

Organelles of the animal cell and their functions

4. REFERENCES

• Cox, M. y Nelson, D. (2007). Principios de bioquímica (5th edition). Barcelona: Ediciones Omega. (*) Book in Spanish.
• Kelvinsong (2012). Diagram of a typical animal cell. Retrieved from Wikipedia Commons. Avaliable [HERE].