Question

What is the Chromoplasm?

Answer 1

Chromoplasm:

The word Chromoplasm has different meanings in genetics and bacterial cell biology.

In genetics:

1. The matrix in which the nucleolus is suspended along with other nuclear proteins that remains bound by the nuclear membrane is called the nucleoplasm.
2. Chromoplasm is referred to the part of the nucleoplasm that condenses to form the chromosomes.
3. It is rich in chromatin threads (that contain DNA) and histone proteins.

In bacterial cell biology:

1. It is defined as the material present in the periphery of the cytoplasm in cyanobacteria (blue-green bacteria).
2. It is rich in thylakoids and hence contains the pigment chlorophyll.
3. In addition to chlorophyll-containing thylakoids, chromoplasm is also rich in the pigments that impart the blue (phycocyanin) and red (phycoerythrin) pigments.
4. It also contains stored lipids and carbohydrate molecules.