motor cell
motor cell A type of plant cell that acts like a hinge at joints to enable the movement of plant parts, such as the closing and opening of leaflets in response to light intensity (see nyctinasty) or the rapid closure of a leaf in a carnivorous plant. Motor cells adjust their internal concentration of potassium ions (K+) to alter their turgidity, and hence the cell shape. They can accumulate K+ via potassium channels in the plasma membrane, which promotes the osmotic uptake of water into the cell, making the cell swollen (turgid). Conversely, they can pump K+ out of the cell, which causes water to leave and the cell to shrink. The movements resulting from the changes in motor-cell turgor are relatively gradual, taking minutes or hours. However, in the case of carnivorous plants, such as Venus' flytrap, a very rapid leaf closure is required to trap insect prey. Here the motor cells along the midrib of the leaf become freely permeable to K+, which surges out, causing water to follow and leading to near instantaneous collapse of the cells and swift closure of the leaf.
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motor cell