What does a vacuole do?
Quick Answer
Vacuoles vary in function between organisms and even within the same cell, but the most frequent use is the storage of water or nutrients. A vacuole is really a general-purpose, empty membrane organelle that is filled with whatever the cell needs to keep separate from the rest of the cytoplasm. As such, different vacuoles also store waste or even toxins, and some organisms have other uses for them.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
According to the City University of New York, plant cells are particularly dependent upon their vacuoles, specifically a large central vacuole. This large vacuole, which often takes up a large majority of the volume of the cell, is filled mostly with water, but also waste and other substances. The remarkable thing about this vacuole is its structural role, however. Plant cells lack the protein-based cytoskeleton that helps animal cells keep their shapes. Instead, they use the pressure of their inflated central vacuoles against their tough cell walls to maintain their shape, in a manner analogous to a Mylar balloon.
Since vacuole is actually a general term for a hollow, membrane-bound organelle, the name also applies to the rather different organelles known as contractile vacuoles. These are found in many single-celled organisms, and help maintain water balance by physically pumping excess water from the interior of the cell.
Learn more about BiologyRelated Questions
-
Q:
What are the functions of a Euglena cell?
A: Like algae and plants, Euglena cells contain chloroplasts that allow them to create food through photosynthesis, but they can also take in nutrients from o... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a detrivore?
A: Detritivores are complex organisms that feed on organic waste and break down organic material to become the nutrients for plants. Examples of detritivores ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What conditions are necessary for respiration?
A: The presence of oxygen, nutrients and space to discard their metabolic products are the conditions for cellular respiration in aerobic organisms. Anaerobic... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the biological significance of proteins?
A: Proteins have many biological functions, including facilitating transportation, delivering key nutrients and acting as storage facilities. The role that pr... Full Answer >Filed Under:
