spheroplast
/ˈsfɪrəˌplæst/
noun
- A bacterial or yeast cell whose cell wall has been mostly removed, leaving it spherical and fragile.
- In the lab, scientists created a spheroplast to study how the cell membrane works without a rigid wall.
- Under the microscope, the spheroplast looked like a round, delicate balloon.
- The spheroplast burst easily because it no longer had its protective outer layer.