protoplast

views updated May 17 2018

pro·to·plast / ˈprōtəˌplast/ • n. chiefly Bot. the protoplasm of a living plant or bacterial cell whose cell wall has been removed.DERIVATIVES: pro·to·plas·tic / ˌprōtəˈplastik/ adj.

protoplast

views updated Jun 08 2018

protoplast That part of a plant cell which is actively engaged in metabolic processes (i.e. the protoplasm other than the cell wall).

protoplast

views updated May 21 2018

protoplast (energid) The living unit of a cell, consisting of the nucleus and cytoplasm bounded by the plasma membrane. Protoplasts of bacterial and plant cells can be prepared by removing the cell wall; they are used to study the processes involved in cell metabolism and reproduction.

protoplast

views updated May 29 2018

protoplast (energid) In animals (but not plants), the entire contents of a cell.