A vacuole is an organelle commonly present in plant cells, and also in animal cells, but in a much smaller size. This organelle is bound by a membrane, known as tonoplast in the case of plant cells. Vacuoles differ between plant and animal cells. A plant cell may contain one very large central vacuole, while an animal cell may contain a number of smaller vacuoles. The main purpose of a vacuole in animal cells is the storage of unwanted and potentially harmful materials to the cell. It has another important role in the case of plant cells. The central vacuole, which may take up to 80-90% of the plant cell volume, helps maintain the turgor pressure of the cell and hence allow it to maintain its integrity. The vacuole may also store nutrients, minerals, chemicals that may impart specific characteristics (color to flowers or bad taste to insects thus protecting the plant, etc.), among others.
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