VacuolesBy Breelyn Johnson-Fite

What are vacuoles?

Vacuole: cytoplasmic membrane surrounding the vacuoleMembrane surrounding vacuole is called the tonoplast.

Water channels of the tonoplast help maintain cell tonicity.

VacuolesFunctions

• Stores waste products so the rest of the cell is protected from contamination

• Stores enzymes that break down macromolecules and detoxifying foreign substances

• Slowly breaks down waste products into small pieces that cannot hurt the cell

• Holds quantities of water or food

Types of Vacuoles

Different vacuoles types can be found in different cells

• Some fungi and protists

Specialized, depending on the needs of the cell

• Central vacuole: helps maintain plants' shape and structure by storing water.

• Food vacuole: storage for molecules that is a food source for the cell (protozoans)

• Contractile vacuole: found in some protists, can pump water and used to maintain water balance ( in many microorganisms)

• Others: storage or split toxic materials from the cytoplasm

Types

Types of Vacuoles

Where are vacuoles found?

Fungi Protist

(Some of them)

Fungi Vacuoles

Functions

• Similar to that in plant cells• There can be multiple vacuoles• Maintaining the right pH level• Help in maintain an acidic internal pH in cells

Protist Vacuole

Have both food and contractile vacuoles.

Where are vacuoles found?

Plant Cell Animal Cell

(absent sometimes)

Plant Vacuoles

Has one large central vacuole taking up 30%-90% of cell volume

Larger in plant cells

Plant Vacuoles• Vacuoles plays an important role in

plant structure. • The cell grows by expanding the

central vacuole.• Depending on how much water is

present the size of that cell may still increase or decrease.

• Most of a plant cell's volume depends on the material in vacuoles.

• Can expand in size to increase the tonicity.

Help Give Structure

Animal Vacuoles

Much smaller than plant cells

One or more small vacuoles

Animal Vacuoles

• Get rid of waste and extra waterTheir Job

Disease Association

Vacuolar Myopathy• Occurs when many abnormal vacuoles develop in the muscle cells.

• There are several types of vacuolar myopathy.

• They stop the muscles from working properly.

• Can cause weakness and difficulty moving and breathing.

Disease Association • The most affected muscles are legs and arms, heart or

chest muscles may also be affected.

• The severity and worsening of muscle weakness, depends on the type.