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VACUOLE

Vacuoles are membrane-bound organelles found in the cytoplasm of plant and animal cells that are filled with watery fluid. They store nutrients, waste products, minerals, and other substances. Vacuoles help maintain pressure within plant cells and occupy over 80% of the cell's volume. The membrane surrounding vacuoles is called the tonoplast and contains proteins that transport molecules in and out of the vacuole. Vacuoles store and sequester substances through endocytosis and exocytosis and help maintain the cell's internal environment.

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184 views

VACUOLE

Vacuoles are membrane-bound organelles found in the cytoplasm of plant and animal cells that are filled with watery fluid. They store nutrients, waste products, minerals, and other substances. Vacuoles help maintain pressure within plant cells and occupy over 80% of the cell's volume. The membrane surrounding vacuoles is called the tonoplast and contains proteins that transport molecules in and out of the vacuole. Vacuoles store and sequester substances through endocytosis and exocytosis and help maintain the cell's internal environment.

Uploaded by

arooj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VACUOLES

“Vacuoles are membrane-bound cell organelles present in the cytoplasm and


filled with a watery fluid containing various substances.”

What are Vacuoles?


The term “vacuole” means “empty space”. They help in the storage and disposal of various substances.
They can store food or other nutrients required by a cell to survive. They also store waste products and
prevent the entire cell from contamination.

The vacuoles in plant cells are larger than those in the animal cells. The plant vacuoles occupy more than
80% of the volume of the cell. The vacuoles may be one or more in number.

Structure of Vacuole
A vacuole is a membrane bound structure found in the cytoplasmic matrix of a cell. The membrane
surrounding the vacuole is known as tonoplast. The components of the vacuole, known as the cell sap,
differ from that of the surrounding cytoplasm. The membranes are composed of phospholipids. The
membranes are embedded with proteins that help in transporting molecules across the membrane.
Different combinations of these proteins help the vacuoles to hold different materials.

Functions of Vacuole
The important functions of vacuole include:

Storage
A vacuole stores salts, minerals, pigments and proteins within the cell. The solution that fills a vacuole is
known as the cell sap. The vacuole is also filled with protons from the cytosol that helps in maintaining
an acidic environment within the cell. A large number of lipids are also stored within the vacuoles.
Turgor Pressure
The vacuoles are completely filled with water and exert force on the cell wall. This is known as turgor
pressure. It provides shape to the cell and helps it to withstand extreme conditions.

Endocytosis and Exocytosis


The substances are taken in by a vacuole through endocytosis and excreted through exocytosis. These
substances are stored in the cells, separated from the cytosol. Lysosomes are vesicles that intake food
and digest it. This is endocytosis and it varies in different cells.

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