Protists Cell Walls And Plant Cell Walls: 5 Important Facts

This article illustrate all around information on protists cell walls and plant cell walls with different facts in detail.

The most important role of both protists cell walls and plant cell walls is, to provide some barrier for an undesirable molecule transport the elements and maintains the shape of the cell and allows the materials to pass in and out of the cell.

Do both protists and plants have cell walls?

Yes, both plants and protists have a cell wall but the structural similarity of the cell wall is different because different types of plants or protists possess a different type of cell wall but only the function of the cell wall is the same.There is a main important role of the cell wall is, that it helps to provide some barrier for an undesirable molecule. It also maintains the shape of the cell and allows the materials to pass in and out of the cell.

The protists cell walls and plant cell wall protects the cell from mechanical injuries and also protects the cell from the attack of pathogens like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It filters the solutes going in and out of the cell and provides structure to the cell thus giving the plant strength.

Most animal cells don’t possess any cell walls because it already has a skeletal system for the protection of organ. There is no need for a cell wall at all while plant cell doesn’t have any skeletal like structure but it contains mainly two types of cell walls.

Primary cell wall

This type of cell wall has a highly hydrated structure, is relatively thin, and synthesize during the beginning of growth

Secondary cell wall

This type of cell wall has a main important role in providing strength and rigidity in plant tissue and it is present inside the primary wall.

Similarities between plant cell walls and protists cell walls

Most of the protists do not have a cell wall but some of the protists contain a cell wall that is made up of cellulose. The cell wall of protists also contains an outer covering of plasma membrane. Fungi-like protists generally possess cell walls while plant protists are made up of polymers that are similar to cellulose that contains repeating subunits.

Some of the unicellular types of protist have a trabeculae-type structure in their cell wall that is generally made up of cellulose and extend up to the cytoplasm while colonial plant- protist have a cell wall surrounding the cell with containing an extracellular matrix.

The similarity between protists cell walls and plant cell walls is-both have cellulosic cell walls and both possess same functions like allow exchange of food materials or some desired molecules and giving the perfect shape to the cell. Both contain mitochondria for energy production as well as a nucleus in their central compartment. The plastids are also similar in both but only differ in color

Are plant cell walls and protists cell walls the same?

Yes, The composition of the cell wall is similar in both plants as well as protists.

800px Protist collage 2 2
protists cell walls and plant cell walls example
Image from Wikipedia

Difference between protists and plant cell walls

Plants Cell wallProtists Cell wall
Plant cells have cellulosic cell wallsProtists have a very thin cellulose cell wall or absence at all.
Most of the fungal like plant cell walls are made up of chitin Fungi like protists are usually made up of cellulose and some similar polymersPlant possess stems, roots, and leaves, with having cell wallProtists lack stems, roots, and leaves, unlike true plants with presence or absence of cell wall

Conclusion

The protists cell walls and plant cell walls made up of cellulose and both possess the same functions like allowing exchange of food materials or some desired molecules and giving the perfect shape to the cell.

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