Vacuole
By
Kurt Smetana
Period 2
Types of Vacuoles
• Food Vacuoles - formed by phagocytosis
• Tractile Vacuoles - pumps excess water out
of the cell.
• Central Vacuoles - enclosed by a membrane
called tonoplast.
Functions of Vacuoles
• Place to store organic compounds, such as
proteins stockpiled in vacuoles of storage
cells in seeds.
• Plant cell’s main repository of inorganic
ions, such as potassium and chloride.
• Functions as plant cell’s lysosomal
compartment
• Disposal sites for metabolic by-products
that would be dangerous in cytoplasm
More Functions
• Help protect the plant against predators
because they contains poisonous or
unpalatable compounds.
• Elongates to absorb water, allowing the
plant cell to become larger with a minimal
investment in new cytoplasm.
Creation of Vacuoles
• Developed by coalescence of smaller
vacuoles.
• These are derived from the endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi apparatus.
Other Important Facts
• Is an integral part of the endomembrane
system.
• Only appears in plant cells.
• Some are enriched in pigments that color
the cells.
• Like vesicles, Vacuoles are membraneenclosed sacs within the cell.
Questions
• What is the name of the membrane that is
around a central vacuole?
A. Tonoplast
B. Endoplasmic Recticulum
C. Golgi Apparatus
• Vacuoles are found in…
A. The interior of animal cells
B. The interior of plant cells
C. The cells inside a cow’s intestine
Questions
• The three types of Vacuoles are…
A. Food, Tractile, Phagocytosis
B. Tractile, Central, Organic
C. Food, Tractile, Central
THE END.