Cytosol Vs. Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm and cytosol are the components of a cell, which is the basic functional unit of life or all living organisms. Cells can be of two types, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell. An eukaryotic cell is the cell that contains a membrane bound nucleus, while the prokaryotic cell lacks such a nucleus, as well as some other complex structures or organelles found in an eukaryotic cell. A cell is usually remain bounded with a cell membrane, which is sometimes called plasma membrane. Cytoplasm and cytosol are the parts of a cell that can be found inside or within the cell membrane.

Cytoplasm and Cytosol

Cytoplasm is consists of all the contents that we can found within the cell membrane, excluding the cell nucleus. It is the part of the cell which can be found within the cell membrane. The cell nucleus and its contents are however, not considered as a part of cytoplasm. Instead, they are called 'nucleoplasm', which is separated from cytoplasm by the nuclear membrane. Cytoplasm contains other organelles like, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosome. These organelles are also filled with liquid, which is separated from cytoplasm by the biological membranes.

Along with these organelles, cytoplasm contains cytoplasmic inclusions, which are basically granules of starch and glycogen, mineral crystals and lipid droplets. The gel-like translucent fluid that is found inside a cell is also a part of the cytoplasm. This intracellular fluid is what we know as cytosol, and is a part of the cytoplasm. Cytosol is that part of cytoplasm, that is not enclosed within the organelles found in the cytoplasm.

Cytosol excludes the part of cytoplasm which is found within the organelles. Cytosol is the fluid where the other elements of cytoplasm remain suspended. On the other hand, cytoplasm includes all components that can be found inside the cell membrane excluding, the nucleus. Cytoplasm contains cytosol, along with the organelles and the cytoplasmic inclusions, which are the other two important elements of cytoplasm. Cytoplasm is made up of water, nucleic acid, enzymes, non-organic ions, salts, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates and other dissolved nutrients.

As the liquid part of cytoplasm, cytosol makes up about 70% of the cell volume. The main components of cytosol are, concentration gradient, cytoskeletal sieve, protein complexes and protein compartments. Cytosol is a complex mixture of water, salts, dissolved ions and organic molecules. Water makes up the larger portion of cytosol. Apart from water, protein filaments can be found in cytosol, which form the cytoskeleton filaments. Cytoskeleton filaments give the shape to a cell and assist its movement. In prokaryotic cell, the genome or genetic material of the cell can also be found in the cytosol.

Cytosol is basically an important part or element of the cytoplasm. In a prokaryotic cell, it is the site of almost all metabolic processes that take place within a cell. Even in eukaryotic cell, a large number of metabolic processes or chemical reactions take place in cytosol. As a part of cytoplasm, cytosol helps to transport metabolites from the site of production to the site of utilization. Cytosol is also the site for cell communication, while cytoplasm is the site for a large number of cellular activities such as, cell division and metabolic pathways like, glycolysis.