When we talk about vacuoles, so we imagine plant cells and a specific type of vacuole. However, there are different types of vacuole, found in different cell types, not just the plant. Next we will learn what is vacuole and what are the different types of vacuoles existing.
→ What are vacuoles?
the vacuoles are large vesicles arising from the endoplasmic reticulum and the golgiense complex. They are membranous cell structures and, therefore, typical of eukaryotic cells. They have a selective membrane, like all cell membranes. Therefore, the content inside the vacuole is different from the cytoplasmic content.
→ food vacuoles
these vacuoles form after a process of endocytosis. In this case, it appears that the cell captures a particle, forming a vesicle called a phagosome or a pinosome, depending on the type of endocytosis performed. This vesicle then joins a lysosome, giving rise to the so-called alimentary vacuole, also known as digestive vacuole.
→ contractile vacuoles
You contractile vacuoles
are those that have as a function pump the excess water inside the cell out of the cell. This structure is present in single-celled eukaryotes that live in freshwater aquatic environments such as amoebas. As these organisms are hypertonic in relation to the environment, water enters through osmosis and pumping water ensures that the body maintains its concentrations of ions and molecules in the desired amount and does not break down. Furthermore, this vacuole is also responsible for excretion.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Amoebas have contractile vacuoles
→ Cellular juice vacuum
The cell juice vacuole is a typical organelle of plant celland also the best known type of vacuole.It has a membrane called tonoplast and has in its interior a series of substances that form the cell juice. This juice is generally acidic and formed by water and dissolved organic and inorganic substances, such as sugars, proteins and ions.
In meristematic cells, several small vacuoles are usually seen, which fuse and form a large central vacuole in the mature cell. In some cells, the vacuole has about 90% of the intercellular space.
The cell juice vacuole has a number of important functions for the plant, such as:
osmotic control
Digestion of Cellular Components
Storage of substances
pH control
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is a vacuole?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-vacuolo.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
