Question

What are the $3$ types of vacuoles?

Answer 1

Vacuoles:

1. Vacuoles are non-cytoplasmic regions present within the cytoplasm that are later separated by a special membrane.
2. The vacuoles are supposed to be formed by expansion and pinching from the ER.
3. Depending on the contents and functions, there are four types of vacuoles - sap vacuoles, compressible vacuoles, food vacuoles, and air vacuoles.

Types of vacuoles:

Sap vacuoles:

1. They are fluid-filled vacuoles or vesicles that are selectively separated from the cytoplasm by impermeable membranes called tonoplasts.
2. It has a number of transport systems for the passage of various objects.
3. A number of small sap vacuoles are found in animal cells and young plant cells.

Contractile vacuoles:

1. Compressible vacuoles have highly extensible and compressed membranes.
2. It is also connected to some feeding canals.
3. Feeding canals draw water from the surrounding cytoplasm with or without waste products.
4. They participate in osmoregulation and excretion.

Food vacuoles:

1. They are found in protozoan protist cells, much lower animal and higher animal phagocytes
2. A mixture of phagosomes and lysosomes forms food vacuoles.
3. Food vacuoles contain digestive enzymes that help digest nutrients.

Air vacuoles:

1. They are only reported in prokaryotes.
2. Air vacuum not only stores gases but also provides protection against surges, mechanical strength, and harmful radiation.