Vacuole/Central Vacuole
“warehouse,” digest and stores food, water, waste; larger in plant cells and helps them maintain shape
Vacuoles are membrane-bound organelles found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. They are essentially fluid-filled sacs that store, transport, and sometimes excrete water, nutrients, waste products, and other substances. Vacuoles are found in all types of eukaryotic cells, including plant, animal, fungal, and protist cells.
Central vacuole, on the other hand, is a large and specialized type of vacuole that is found only in plant cells and some protists. It is formed by the fusion of smaller vacuoles during the growth of the plant cell, and it can occupy up to 90% of the cell volume. Unlike other vacuoles, the central vacuole plays a critical role in maintaining plant cell structure and function. It provides turgor pressure to support the plant cell, regulates cell growth and expansion, and stores essential nutrients such as water, minerals, and pigments. The central vacuole also helps to break down and detoxify waste products and toxins, and it can act as a temporary storage place for unwanted materials until they can be removed from the cell.
Thus, while all eukaryotic cells have vacuoles, central vacuoles are unique to plant and some protist cells, and have more specialized functions in these cells.
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