Plant cell structure. Artwork of a sectioned plant cell. The features that distinguish a plant cell from an animal cell are the cell wall and the chloroplasts . The large central vacuole also contrasts with the many small vacuoles of an animal cell. Chloroplasts contain a pigment, chlorophyll, which is used in photosynthesis. The nucleus has been cut open to show the nucleolus (sphere), and is found in plant and animal cells, as are the energy-producing mitochondria and peroxisomes.