Vacuole

[Electron Micrograph of plant vacuoles. The vacuoles help to provide structural support for the plant cells.]

The vacuole is used only in plant cells. It is responsible for maintaining the shape and structure of the cell. Plant cells don't increase in size by expanding the cytosplasm, rather they increase the size of their vacuoles. The vacuole is a large vesicle which is also used to store nutrients, metabolites, and waste products. The pressure applied by the vacuole, called turgor, is necessary to maintain the size of the cell. If turgor is lost the cell becomes flaccid. The vacuole typically is 50% of the volume of the cell, yet it can take up to 95% of the cell!

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