Vacuoles
A vacuole is basically a large sac that is surrounded by a membrane called the tonoplast. Animal cells' vacuoles tend to be more numerous but smaller than those of plant cells. In animal cells, the vacuoles usually come from the golgi apparatus, although they can also be created as the cell engulfs something through endocytosis.
In animal cells, vacuoles are mostly used for transport and storage. For example, they may hold food until a lysosome comes along and digests the food. In plant cells, the large central vacuole plays a bigger role. Besides storing wastes and foods, it is also responsible for supporting the shape and size of the cell. In plant cells the vacuole stores a lot of water so the cell doesn't wither. Furthermore, plant vacuoles may also contain toxic materials as a natural defense mechanism against would-be predators. |