Question

Name and describe different types of leucoplasts

Answer 1

Leucoplasts are classified into three groups: amyloplasts (which store starch), elaiplasts or oleoplasts (store lipids), and proteinoplasts (store proteins).

Amyloplast

Amyloplasts are responsible for storing starch, which is a nutritive polysaccharide found in plant cells, protists and some bacteria.

It is usually in the form of visible granules under a microscope. Plastids are the only way by which plants synthesize starch and it is also the only place where it is contained.

The amyloplasts undergo a process of differentiation: they are modified to store starches product of the hydrolysis. It is in all plant cells and its main function is to carry out amylolysis and phosphorolysis (starch catabolism pathways).

There are specialized amyloplasts of the radial coffer (corbertura surrounding the apex of the root), which function as gravimetric sensors and direct the growth of the root to the ground.

Amyloplasts have considerable amounts of starch. Because their grains are dense, they interact with the cytoskeleton causing the meristematic cells to fracture perpendicularly.

Amyloplasts are the most important of all leucoplasts and differentiate from each other by their size.

Oleoplastos

Oleoplastos or elaiplastos, are responsible for the storage of oils and lipids. Its size is small and has many small drops of fat inside.

They are present in epidermal cells of some cryptogams and in some monocotyledons and dicotyledons that lack the accumulation of starch in the seed. They are also known as lipoplasts.

The endoplasmic reticulum, known as the eukaryotic pathway and the elaioplasts or via the prokaryote, are the pathways of lipid synthesis. The latter also participates in pollen maturation.

Other types of plants also store lipids in an organelle called elaiosomes that derive from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Proteinoplast

Proteinoplasts have a high level of protein that is synthesized in crystals or as amorphous material.

These types of plastids store proteins that accumulate as crystalline or amorphous inclusions within the organelle and are usually bounded by membranes. They may be present in different cell types and also vary the type of protein it contains depending on the tissue.

Studies have found the presence of enzymes such as peroxidases, polyphenol oxidases, as well as some lipoproteins, as the major constituents of the proteinoplasts.

These proteins can function as a reserve material in the formation of new membranes during the development of the plastid; However, there is some evidence that these reserves could be used for other purposes.

Answer 2

Answer:

amiloplast elaiplast oleoplast