Question

Intra-cellular compartments are not found in cells of
A) Lower plants
B) Prokaryotes
C) Higher plants
D) Eukaryotes

Answer 1

Hint: When we talk about intra- cellular compartment we refer to inter-space that is present in the cell membrane of the cell and the other organelles that are present in the cell. They are generally present in all kinds of cells. They may be absent only in that organism in which there is no distinction in the membrane and the organelles of the cell.

Complete answer:
Intracellular compartments are the space that is present within the organism’s cell. They are separated from the extracellular compartment that is composed of plasma and the interstitial fluid by the cell membrane. The plasma or cell membrane is composed of the lipid bilayer and retains osmotic equilibrium and chemical disequilibrium. It is also known as the liquid part of the cytoplasm in which the organelles are embedded.

Intracellular compartments account for about 67% of the total body fluid which is approximately 25 litres. It contains a high concentration of $K^+$ and proteins that have multiple responsibilities to take place inside the cell.

Let us analyze the given options:
Lower plants- The cells of the vascular strands contains mainly sieve cells, parenchyma cells, tracheid and endodermal cells. The tracheids are comprised of xylem for conduction of water and phloem for the conduction of food in plants.

Prokaryotes- The organisation of the prokaryotes cell is fundamentally similar even though prokaryotes exhibit a wide variety of shapes and functions. They have a cell wall surrounding the cell membrane with a fluid-filled matrix called the cytoplasm. These organisms do not contain a well-defined nucleus.

Higher plants- Plant cells contain the same cells that are present in lower plants as their functions are the same. They also contain sieve tube cells, endodermal cells, tracheids and parenchyma cells. They have a cell wall that helps in the protection of organelles present in the cell.

Eukaryotes- All eukaryotic cells are not identical. They contain extensive compartmentalisation of cytoplasm through the presence of membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotes cells possess an organised nucleus with a nuclear envelope. They contain intra- cellular space that is filled with fluid matrix.

Prokaryotic cells are the primitive unicellular organism that contains a disorganised nucleus that too without nuclear membrane and organelles that are not membrane-bound.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Note: Prokaryotic cells contain a unique form of inclusion. They contain a specialized differentiated form of cell membrane which are called mesosomes. It is considered a characteristic of prokaryotes. They are essentially infoldings that are present in the cell membrane of the cell.