Question: What functions do the organelles in a plant cell perform?
1. Label: Locate each organelle in the plant cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below.
Plastos: There are colorless leukoplasts that make starch reserves and colored chromoplasts that have pigments. One plaste can transform into another. Chloroplasts are the organelles responsible for photosynthesis. They contain chlorophyll pigment, which gives them a green color and absorbs sunlight, allowing the process to occur. They are membranous organelles, which have DNA and are capable of self-duplication. They have a structure similar to that of mitochondria, which is explained by scientists as an evolutionary mechanism of symbiosis between prokaryotes and eukaryotes (endosymbiotic theory).
Cell Wall: The cell wall or cellulosic wall is exterior to the plasma membrane surrounding the cell. It is a more or less thick wrap, composed of a polysaccharide called cellulose. Its function is to support the plant, which is why it is also called the skeletal cellulose membrane. There are pores in the cellulosic walls through which pass very thin cytoplasm bridges, called plasmodesmos. Through plasmodesms there is communication between the cytoplasm of neighboring cells.
Vacuoles: Vacuoles are membrane-enclosed spaces in which substances such as sap can be stored, and their function is to regulate pH and water intake through osmotic control. With this, the vacuoles control the turgidity of the cell. In young plants there are several smaller vacuoles that come together and form a single large vacuole as the plant develops.
Mitochondria: They are organelles composed of double membrane, with many folds. Its function is to perform cellular respiration, which produces most of the energy used in vital functions.
Endoplasmic Reticulum: They are organelles whose membranes fold forming flat bags. There are 2 types of endoplasmic reticulum, smooth and rough. The main function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is to perform protein synthesis and transport proteins to other parts of the cell.
Golgi Complex: The Golgi Complex is made up of stacked flat discs, forming membranous pockets. Its functions are: modify, store and export synthesized proteins in the reticulum. It also originates the primary lysosomes.
Lysosomes: Lysosomes are involved only by the membrane and inside there are digestive enzymes. Its function is to digest organic molecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Peroxisomes: Peroxisomes are small organelles containing oxidase enzymes. The main function is to oxidize the raw material of cellular respiration, whose reactions produce hydrogen peroxide and hence the name of the organelle.
