-ANJU BALAGOPAL 11MSB0012

Cytoplasm is the thick, gel-like semitransparent fluid that is found in both plant and animal cell.

It is bounded by the plasma membrane, and contains many organelles in an eukaryotic cell (cell containing membrane bounded nucleus).
In the eukaryotic cell, the nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane, known as nuclear membrane.

DISCOVERY
Cytoplasm was discovered in 1835. Though, discovery of the different organelles found in cytoplasm can be attributed to different scientists, no single scientist can be credited for discovering cytoplasm.

There has been lot of controversy about the physical nature of The matrix:RETICULAR THEORY suggests that the matrix is composed of Reticulum of fibres or particles in the ground substance ALVEOLAR THEORY , according to this theory, the matrix consisted of suspended droplets or alveoli in the form of emulsions

GRANULAR THEORY , this theory supports the view that the matrix contains many granules smaller and larger size arranged differently. These granules are called bioplasts. FIBRILLAR THEORY: this theory holds that the matrix is fibrillar In nature COLLIDAL THEORY: according to this system the matrix is partly a true solution partly a collidal system.

The colloidal theory is the theory which is widely belived, since it can explain different properties of the cytoplasm most efficiently A solution is a mixture of a liquid called solvent and any chemical substance in the solid or the liquid state, called solute. The solution part of the matrix The solution part of the matrix of consists of water as solvent in which various solutes of biological importance such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, hormones and enzymes remain dissolved

PHASE REVERSAL :

the colloidal system of the matrix can occur either in a semisolid or liquid state. The semisolid state is known as the gel phase , while the liquid state is known as the sol state. Both the states of the colloidal matrix according to the various physiological ,mechanical , biochemical activities of the cell. Thus the gel can turn into sol by the process called solation and a sol can turn into gel by gelation. this property of the colloidal matrix is called phase reversal

CHEMICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE MATRIX

Chemically , the cytoplasmic matrix is composed of many chemical elements in the form of atoms, ions and molecules. A chemical substance is a fundamental substances which cannot be broken down into two or more simpler substances

MAJOR CONSTITUENTS : Oxygen 62 % Carbon 20% Hydrogen- 10% Nitrogen 3%

These occur in a wide array of chemical molecules (organic and inorganic)

TRACE ELEMENTS
Calcuim 2.5 % Phosphorous-1.14% Chlorine-0.16% Sulphur- 0.14% Potassuim-0.11% Sodium- 0.10% Magnesuim-0.07% Iodine- 0.014% Iron-0.10 %

These elements occur in significant ratio in various Biologically important molecules, for example phosphorous is the major component of ATP, DNA and RNA.

Further many trace elements required by the cell for its various physical and biochemical activities such as osmosis , diffusion, impulse conduction and other various physico-chemical activities.

ELECTROLYTES

The electrolytes play a vital role in the maintanance of osmotic pressure and the acid base equilibrium in the matrix. Certain ions such as the magnesuim etc are essential for many enzymatic activities because they act as co factors.
NON-ELECTROLYTES

Some of the minerals that occur in the matrix in the non- ionizing State. The non-electrolytes of the matrix are : Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Fl, Mo, Cl, Zn, Co, Ni etc.

The iron occurs in the haemoglobin , ferritin cytochromes and some enzymes like catalases and cytochrome oxidase. The calcuim occurs in the blood, matrix and bones. The copper , manganese, Molybdenum and zinc are useful as co factors for enzymatic actions. The iodine and fluorine are essential for the thyroid and the enamel metabolism respectively.

ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS:

The molecular and ionic complexes of the matrix generally belong to one of these general classes: acids, bases or salts

An acid is a compound which in solution yields hydrogen ions A base is a compound which in solution yields hydroxyl compounds the salts are composed of metals or non metals combined in ways which do not qualify them either as acids or bases, that is in solution they yield either hydrogen or hydroxyl ions

TYPES OF COMPOUNDS OF MATRIX:

The matrix contains ionic and molecular compounds and these compounds are superficially classified into two main categories: Inorganic compounds : Water It is the most abundant inorganic component of the matrix. Water Constitutes 65-80% of the matrix. In the matrix, water occurs in two forms: free water and bound water

The 95% of the total cellular water is used by the matrix as the solvent for various inorganic and organic substances is known as free water. The remaining 5% of the cellular water remains loosely linked to protein molecules by hydrogen bonds or other forces is known as bound water. The water contents of the cellular matrix of an organism depend directly on age, habitat and metabolic activities. For instance, the cells of an embryo have 90 to 95% water which decreases progressively in the cells of adult organisms.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF WATER AND ITS USES:

Water is one of the best solvents known to the biological systems with a variety of different molecular types that must be in solution for normal cellular activities. Water is a polar solvent and hence behaves as a charged solvent for a variety of different particles. The water forms a good dispersion system for the colloidal system of the matrix. Water is also a heat stabilizer of the atmosphere, the ocean, and the cells of an organism. Water has very high heat capacity. Heat capacity of in terms of specific heat is the amount of heat a substance can absorb to bring about a rise in temperature.

Water has a high heat of vaporization- the amount of heat energy required to convert 1 gram of liquid to its gaseous state. This is used as an advantage by some organisms in warmer environments or during some strenuous exercise, when large amounts of heat is produced. By evaporating water from body surfaces or respiratory passages the heat is removed. water molecules show great coherence (due to hydrogen bonding). Such strong coherence means water has high surface tension. Water shows adhesion which allows it to bind or get attracted to other molecules. That allows water to reach the soil roots etc. Water molecule has great importance for various metabolic functions since most of them require aqueous media.

water is used by the cell as transporting media for food nitrogen wastes and other necessary substances. water is immisicible with non polar liquids such as the lipids, and so water remains stable and does not mix with the lipid components like the plasma membrane. Water is transparent ,that allows organelles like the chloroplast to perform photosynthesis by absorbing sunlight.

Organic compounds
The chemical substances which contain carbon in combination with one or more elements such as hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur etc are Called organic compounds Carbohydrates:The carbohydrates are the compounds of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen . Chemically they are defined as the derivatives of polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones.

The homopolysaccrides (these are the carbohydrates which contain more than 10 monomers of similar monosaccrides ). The most important homopolysaccrides of the matrix are starch, glycogen and cellulose. Starch: The starch is the most important storage material of the plant cells. It is composed of amylose and amylopectin. Glycogen: It is a branched polymer of glucose molecules. It consists of several thousand glucose molecules. Because of branching it forms a very compact structure. Since it is a important storage material of food in animals it called animal starch.

Cellulose: It is an insoluble rigid structural polymer. It is made up of several hundred thousand units of beta-D-glucose.the cellulose forms the cell wall of the plant cell and provides mechanical support.the plant cells besides containing cellulose contain other polysaccrides such as, xylan, alginic acid, pectic acid,agar agar and hemicellulose. Of these polysaccrides some provide mechanical support, some store food material.

Heteropolysaccrides(these are the polysaccrides which are made of different monosaccrides): (a)Neutral heteropolysaccrides: the most common example of a neutral heteropolysaccride is acetyl glucosamine.the most important glucosamine is the chitin whose purpose is the same as that of cellulose and serves as a structural polysaccride for fungi and other lower plants, and as the exoskeleton of many of the fungi, crustaceans and other invertebrates.it provides mechanical support to the cells.

(b) Acidic heteropolysaccride: the hyaluronic acid forms the cementing material of the connective tissues.it occurs in skin,connective tissues and in the synovial fluid of the joints. The chondritin sulphate occurs in the cells of cartilage, skin, cornea and umblical cord and it serves as a matrix for the bone formation. Heparin is an anticoagulant present in the liver, lung, thymus, spleen and blood.

Lipids:
Caratinoids are the compound lipids and they form pigments for the plant and animal cell. There are about 70 carotinoids occuring in both kinds of cells. Chemically caratinoids are porphyrins.the porphyrin is a cyclic compound formed by four pyrrole rings and are linked by methylene bridges.the porphyrins linked with important metals and proteins form pigments of the animal and plant cells such as haemoglobin and chlorophyll.

Proteins:
The proteins are the important constituents of the matrix. They are of primary importance for the functioning of the cell.they provide many of the structural elements of the cell,and helps bind cells together to form tissues

The proteins also catalyse many of the most of the important reactions. Some proteins act as contractile elements to make movement possible, others control gene activity, transport of needed materials across the membranes.
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Proteins are amphoteric and therefore act as acids and bases. the solubility of the proteins depends on the pH value of the solvent. the proteins can bind to salts forming ionic bonds.

The structural proteins form various structures of the cell.the functional proteins or the enzymes act as specific calalysts for various functional and metabolic activities of the cell

Enzymes: The cytoplasmic matrix and the cellular organelles contain important organic compounds called the enzymes. The enzymes are specialized proteins which can act as catalysts in the reaction.The enzymes play an important role in biosynthetic activities. Vitamins: Vitamins are small organic compound which are diverse in nature. They are required in minute amounts for the normal functioning of the cell. The cell cannot synthesize vitamins so they are taken along with food. And their deficiency causes disorders and leads to various diseases.

PROPERTIES OF THE CYTOPLASMIC MATRIX:

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: The most of the physical properties of the

matrix are due to its colloidal nature. 1.Tyndall effect: when a beam of strong light is passed through the matrix in right angles in a dark room, small colloidal particles which remain suspended in the colloidal system, reflect light. 2. Brownian movement: the suspended colloidal particles are always move in a zig-zag pattern. This movement is caused by the movement of water molecules which strike the colloidal particles and provide motion to them. This movement depends on the size and the temperature of the particles.

3. Cyclosis and ameboid movement: due to the phase reversal property of the cytoplasmic matrix, the intracellular streaming or movement of the matrix takes place. And the ameboid movement is directly proportional to the cyclosis. It is seen in various plant and animal cell. The ameboid movement ends up changing the shape of the cell. And cytoplasmic projections called pseudopodia are formed. The cyclosis in the matrix moves these pseudopodia and this causes the forward motion of the cell. 4. Surface tension: the force that binds the molecules is called surface tension. The proteins and the lipids have less surface tension and are hence found on the surface and form the membrane. Salts such as NaCl have high surface tension and are hence found deep within the cell.

5. Adsorption: the increase in the concentration of a substance at the surface of a solution is called adsorption. The phenomenon of adsorption helps to form protein boundaries. 6.Other mechanical or physical properties of the matrix: besides the surface tension and adsorption the matrix possesses other mechanical properties such as elasticity, contractility,rigidity and vicosity which provide the matrix many physilogical utilities. 7.Polarity of the egg: the colloidal system due to its stable phase determines the polarity of the cell matrix which cannot be altered by centrifugation or any other mechanical means. 8. Buffers and pH: the matrix has a definate pH value and does not tolerate insignificant change in the pH balance. However due to certain reations acids and bases maybe produced in excesses. To protect itself from pH changes the matrix has buffers.

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES: The matrix is a living substance and hence it has the following biological properties.
1.

2.

Irritability : the irritability is the fundamental and inherent property of the matrix. it possesses a sensitivity to stimulation an ability for transmission of excitation and an ability to react according to stimuli. The heat, light and other chemical factors stimulate the cytoplasmic Matrix to contract. conductivity: the process of conductivity is the process of conduction or transmission of excitation from the place of its origin to the place of its reaction. The matrix of the nerve cells possesses the property of conduction.

3. Movement : the cytoplasmic matrix can show movement due to cyclosis. The cyclosis depends on age, water contents, heredity factors and composition of the cell. 4. Metabolism: the matrix is the seat of metabolic functions . Here anabolism (constructive synthesis) and catabolism (destructive processes) takes place. 5. Growth : due to secreatory anabolic processes, the new cytoplasm is continously increasing in volume. The increase in volume causes cell growth.and the cell eventually undergoes cell division and forms daughter cells. 6.Reproduction : the cytoplasm has the property of sexual and asexual reproduction.

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