Vacuole

I am the lysosome in a plant cell. I carry out many of the functions in a plant cell that are done by the lysosomes in an animal cell. That includes helping plant cells grow large by storing water, storing food, salts, pigments and metabolic wastes. I may serve as a storage compartment for inorganic compounds and for molecules such as proteins and seeds. I break down unneeded organelles and other cell components.