PLANT CELL

Plant cell wall

• Made up of cellulose complex carbohydrates.
• Cellulose is a polymer of β glucose.
• When 2 molecules of β glucose line up the OH group on
carbon atom 1 can only line up alongside the OH group on
carbon atom 4 if one of the molecule is rotated at 1800 to
the other.

β glucose + β glucose
• OH groups stick project outwards from each chain in all
directions and form H bonds with neighbouring chains.
• This cross linking binds the chain rigidly together.
 • The chain associates in a group of 60 -70 to form micro fibrils
(have high tensile strength.
• Microfibrilss are laid down in layers ,held together by a matrix of
pectin and hemicellulose.

NOTE
Mannose xylose and arabinose is also present along with pectins in the
matrix

Normally cell wall is freely permeable to dissolved materials

If suberin / lignin is deposited on the cell wall it becomes non
permeable.
 Plant cell wall has several layers
1. Middle lamella
Made up of pectin –a poly saccharide
Pectin combines with Ca2+ to form calcium pectate.
2. Primary wall
the wall laid with microfibrils oriented in a similar direction.
3. secondary wall
cellulose microfibrils laid densely at different angles to each
other.
Sometimes lignin a acomplex polymer is deposited in all
cellulose layers which gives extratensile strength,compressional
strength and also protects cells from physical and chemical damages.

Why cell wall is known as composite materials

Mechanically strong materials, like cell alls I which more than
one component is present are known as composite materials and they
are generally stronger than any of their components in isolation.

Plasmodesmata
• Cell wall possess minute pores through which structures
called plasmodesmata can pass, forming living connections
between cells and allowing all the protoplasts to be linked
in a system called the symplast.
 VACUOLE
Membrane bound fluid filled space – membrane is known as
Tonoplast
Permanent
Cell sap contains a solution of various substances in water –
pigments,proteins,lytic enzymes

CHLOROPLASTS
Large double membrane bound organelles
Outer membrane is smooth whereas the inner membrane is
folded to increase the surface area
The membranes inside arranged in stacks called grana. A
granum is made up of stacks of membrane disc known as thylakoids
They contain the pigment chlorophyll which traps light.
The membrane stacks are surrounded by a matrix called the
stroma, which contains the enzymes.
AMYLOPLASTS
They store starch.
Most abundant in potato tubers.