Cell Without Cytoplasm: 5 Facts You Should Know

Cytoplasm is among the most important components of a cell as it works as a site for many vital chemical reactions. Let us check what happens to cells without cytoplasm. 

Cells generally do not survive without the gel-like cytoplasm as many chemical reactions necessary to support the cells occur within cytoplasm along with embedding of various cell organelles. On removing the cytoplasm, the organelles would stop functioning which would lead to the death of the cells. 

Let us learn in detail if all cells have cytoplasm or if there are any exceptions to the cells containing cytoplasm along with the reason for the absence.   

Do all cells have cytoplasm?

Cytoplasm is identified as a thick solution that fills the insides of a cell. Let us check if all cells have cytoplasm within them.

All cells have cytoplasm surrounded with plasma membrane. Cytoplasm consists of a jelly-like substance known as the cytosol which is important to embed various cell organelles. Cytoplasm within the cells is the main site for metabolic reactions and hence is important for all the cells. 

Cytoplasm is present in all the cells to help in holding all the organelles and ensures their protection from any further damage. It even helps in storing various molecules which are required to support cellular processes. Cytoplasm also consists of cytoskeletons which are responsible for giving the cells adequate shape. 

cell with out cytoplasm
Cells containing cytoplasm from Wikimedia

Which cell does not have cytoplasm?

Despite cytoplasm being an important component, there are few exceptions in cells that do not contain cytoplasm. Let us check which cells do not have cytoplasm. 

The cells of the matured xylem vessels within the stems of the dicotyledonous plants are found to lack the important cell component cytoplasm. All other cells have been identified to be containing cytoplasm, both in terms of eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells. 

Why do xylem cells have no cytoplasm?

Xylem cells are of four types, parenchyma, fibres, vessels and tracheids, which acts as the water conducting cells in plants. Let us check why xylem cells lack cytoplasm. 

Xylem cells, mostly the matured ones, do not contain cytoplasm because they are dead and hollow cells which are stacked on top of the other in a continuous manner to provide support to the plants and create greater space for the xylem vessels to transport more water. 

Cytoplasm and other organelles disappear from the mature xylem cells and contain the cell wall which has the woody substance called lignin that provides structural support to the plants and strengthens the vessel to carry up the water. 

What happens if the cytoplasm is damaged?

On the damage of any organelle, there are negative outcomes on the further processes within the cells. Let us check the outcomes on the damage of the cytoplasm. 

On the damage of cytoplasm, the shape of the cells would not be retained and they would become flat as the cytoskeleton, which is the component of the cytoplasm, and it would also get damaged. The organelles would also not remain suspended and would not be able to carry out the necessary functions.

A damaged cytoplasm can lead to the death of the cells as well, as the entire functioning of the cells would stop due to the inability of the other organelles to perform and support the important cellular processes. 

Conclusion 

It can be concluded that all cells contain cytoplasm to facilitate important activities within the cells but the only exception is the mature xylem cells present in the collenchyma cells which are dead and lack cytoplasm with other organelles in the cells.

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