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Glite Dictionary
tonoplast

tonoplast

9.8
A membrane around a vacuole in plant cells that controls what moves in and out
  • noun
  • /ˈtoʊnəˌplæst/
  • Specialized
: tonoplasto
  • The tonoplast helps regulate the movement of ions and water into the plant cell's vacuole.

Examples

  • Damage to the tonoplast can affect the cell's ability to maintain internal pressure.

  • Researchers studied the proteins embedded in the tonoplast to understand nutrient storage.

  • The tonoplast regulates the flow of ions.

  • In plant cells, the tonoplast is essential.

  • The tonoplast regulates the intake of nutrients in the plant cell's vacuole.

  • Without a functioning tonoplast, the plant cell cannot control its internal environment effectively.

  • Researchers are investigating how the tonoplast affects water retention in plant cells.

Surface Forms

tonoplast singular
tonoplasts plural

Morphology

tonoplast = tono + plast

The term is built from technical combining forms ('tono-' and '-plast') that are not familiar standalone English words, so an average B1 learner cannot derive 'vacuolar membrane' from the parts.

Etymology

Tonoplast comes from two parts: tono- meaning 'tension' or 'stretch' and -plast meaning 'formed' or 'molded', like in plastic. So the tonoplast is the membrane around a plant vacuole that helps hold its internal pressure and control what moves in and out.