Oct 22, 2010

Glossary

Send

Cytoplasm

The whole cell area surrounding the cell nucleus

The cytoplasm is surrounded by a cell membrane and, in plant cells, by a cell wall. Cytoplasm consists of cytosol (soluble part of the cytoplasm) and the organelles (e.g. plastids and mitochondria). Overall, it contains around 70 per cent water and up to 20 per cent proteins. The cytosol is the site of numerous metabolic reactions for energy generation and biosynthesis (production of proteins, fatty acids and sugars).