31
Components of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells and Functions
| Cell Component | Function | Present in Prokaryotes | Present in Animal Cells | Present in Plant Cells |
| Plasma Membrane | Separates cell from external environment;
controls passage of organic molecules, ions, water, oxygen, and wastes into and out of the cell |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cytoplasm | Provides structure to cell; site of many metabolic reactions; medium in which
organelles are found |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nucleoid | Location of DNA | Yes | No | No |
| Nucleus | Cell organelle that houses DNA and directs synthesis of ribosomes and proteins | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ribosomes | Protein synthesis | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mitochondria | ATP production/cellular respiration | No | Yes | Yes |
| Peroxisomes
|
Oxidizes and breaks down fatty acids and
amino acids, and detoxifies poisons |
No | Yes | Yes |
| Vesicles and
vacuoles
|
Storage and transport; digestive function in
plant cells |
No | Yes | Yes |
| Centrosome
|
Unspecified role in cell division in animal
cells; organizing center of microtubules in animal cells |
No | Yes | No |
| Lysosomes
|
Digestion of macromolecules; recycling of worn-out organelles | No | Yes | No |
| Cell wall
|
Protection, structural support and
maintenance of cell shape |
Yes, primarily
peptidoglycan in bacteria but not Archaea |
No | Yes, primarily
cellulose |
| Chloroplasts | Photosynthesis | No | No | Yes |
| Endoplasmic
reticulum |
Modifies proteins and synthesizes lipids | No | Yes | Yes |
| Golgi apparatus
|
Modifies, sorts, tags, packages, and
distributes lipids and proteins |
No | Yes | Yes |
| Cytoskeleton
|
Maintains cell’s shape, secures organelles in
specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to move independently |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flagella
|
Cellular locomotion | Some | Some | No, except for some plant sperm. |
| Cilia
|
Cellular locomotion, movement of particles
along extracellular surface of plasma membrane, and filtration |
No | Some | No |
References
Unless otherwise noted, images on this page are licensed under CC-BY 4.0 by OpenStax.
Text adapted from: OpenStax, Concepts of Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 18, 2016 http://cnx.org/contents/b3c1e1d2-839c-42b0-a314-e119a8aafbdd@9.10
