Difference Between Cytosol and Cytoplasm
Cytosol vs Cytoplasm
Cytosol is the intra-cellular fluid that is present inside the cells. Once the process of eukaryotes
starts, the fluid is separated by the cell membrane from the organelles (mitochondrial matrix) and
the other contents that float about in the cytosol. Cytosol is the part of the cytoplasm that is not
held by any of the organelles in the cell. On the other hand, cytoplasm is the part of the cell
which is contained within the entire cell membrane. It is the total content within the cell
membrane other than the contents of the nucleus of the cell. All the cell organelles in eukaryotic
cells are contained within the cytoplasm. The central, granular mass in the cytoplasm is the
endoplasm while the surrounding lucid layer is known as the cell cortex or the ectoplasm.
It is in the cytosol that all the metabolic chemical reactions of prokaryotes take place. On the
contrary large scale cellular activities including glycolis, cell division and other metabolic paths
take place in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm is the gelatin-like, semi-transparent liquid that fills the
cell. It contains the mitochondrion, golgi apparatus, vacuoles, plastids, cell wall and the
endoplasmic reticulum.
The major components in cytosol are concentration gradients, protein complexes, protein
compartments and cytoskeletal sieving. Even though none of these components are alienated by
cell membranes still they don’t mix as numerous levels of union confine definite molecules to
distinct locales inside the cytosol. On the other hand, cytoplasm is made of three chief elements
including the cytosol, the cell organelles and the inclusions.
The vital composition of cytosol comprises of a lot of water, dissolved ions, large water soluble
molecules, smaller minute molecules and proteins. The combination of diminutive molecules is
an excessively complicated solution involving each and every molecule that is required in
metabolism. Cytoplasm on the other hand is made of water up to 80%. Other substances present
in the cytoplasm are nucleic acids, enzymes, lipids, non-organic ions, amino acids,
carbohydrates, and lightweight molecular compounds. Other than these, cytoplasm also contains
salts and nutrients in a dissolved state which helps to get the water components easily absorbed
