Cytosol: What is, function and difference with the cytoplasm

Cytosol is a amorphous matrix that occupies the spaces that remain among cellular organellesis located between the cell membrane and the nucleus. This aqueous medium is mostly composed of water, which represents approximately 70% of its volume, in addition to containing ions, salts, amino acids, sugars and proteins, such as enzymes. These substances are essential for the metabolic processes that maintain the active and functional cell.

In eukaryotic cells, cytosol surrounds the organelles that are suspended in it, providing an environment in which various biochemical reactions are carried out. Although many of these reactions take place within the organelles, the cytosol remains crucial for the protein synthesis and for the transport of metabolites. In prokaryotic cells, metabolic reactions occur directly in cytosol, which highlights its importance in these organisms. In addition, the cytosol acts as a dense medium that facilitates the dissemination of molecules at short distances and allows active transport along the cytoskeleton.

• Acts as the main site of signal transduction from the cell membrane to the nucleus and other organelles.
• Approximately half of the proteins in eukaryotic cells are located in cytosol.
• In the cytosol, key reactions such as Glycolysis and protein biosynthesis.
• Facilitates the Metabolite transportallowing water soluble molecules to easily spread through it.
• Hydrophobic molecules, such as fatty acids and sterols, require specific binding proteins for transport in cytosol.
• The molecules that enter the cell by endocytosis are transported in vesicles through the cytosol.
• Cytosol provides an environment that allows interaction and movement Of these vesicles, facilitating internal distribution.
• In organisms such as Tripansomas, cytosol is the main energy production site, generating ATP.
• Metabolic activity in cytosol is essential for Growth and cell reproduction.
• The viscosity of the cytosol allows the dissemination of molecules to short distances and active transport along the cytoskeleton.
• It acts as a storage compartment for metabolism products, such as glycogen and free lipids.

Cytosol is an essential component of the cell, characterized by a complex and highly dynamic structure. Although it is composed mainly waterwhich represents approximately 70% of its volume, its semi -solid consistency, similar to the gelatin, is due to the large amount of proteins and macromolecules suspended in it.

Chemical composition

In the cytosol, they are found various organic moleculesincluding glucose, amino acids, nucleic acids and fatty acids. This aqueous medium also contains essential ionssuch as sodium, potassium and calcium. The concentration of calcium ions, for example, is very low, less than 0.0002 mm, allowing them to act as second messengers on cell signaling.

Macromolecules and cytoskeleton

Cytosol contains approximately 200 mg/ml of dissolved proteins, which is equivalent to about 20% of its total composition. This high concentration of loaded macromolecules, together with the cytoskeleton filaments network, which includes microtubules and actin filaments, actin, contributes to the viscosity of the cytosol.

Gradients and protein complexes

The cytosol exhibits concentration gradients for various molecules, being the most notable those of Calcium ionswhich are generated by rapid opening of calcium channels. These gradients are crucial for processes such as muscle contraction and neurotransmitters. In addition, protein complexes that channel substrates between metabolic reactions are formed. Examples of these include Proteosomethat degrades cytosolic proteins, and microcompartiments such as carboxisome in bacteria, which participate in carbon fixation.

Cytosol and cytoplasm are essential components of cells, but represent different aspects of cell structure. The cytoplasm is a semi -solid fluid that includes all the content of the cell that is not in the nucleus, covering the cytosol and all the organelles, as well as cytoplasmic inclusions. On the other hand, Cytosol is the liquid part of the cytoplasmformed mainly by water, along with soluble ions, small and large water soluble molecules, and proteins.

In terms of diversity, Cytoplasma has a greater variety of components compared to cytosol, which has a lower diversity. While cytosol is the place where all metabolic reactions occur in prokaryotic cells, in eukaryotes, processes such as glycolysis also take place in this environment.

In addition, the cytoplasm is responsible for maintaining the organelles in place, facilitating cellular activities such as cell division and cytokinesis. In contrast, cytosol plays a crucial role in the concentration of dissolved molecules for efficient metabolism and in functions such as signal transduction and molecules transport.

Now that you know what cytosol is, you may be interested in reading this article about cell types: what are, parts and functions.

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