What is contained within the vacuole of a cell?

The vacuole of a cell is primarily responsible for storing various substances, which include fluid, food, and waste materials. In plant cells, vacuoles are typically large and serve key roles in maintaining turgor pressure, which is crucial for plant structure and support. They also store nutrients and waste products, helping to regulate the internal environment of the cell. In animal cells, vacuoles are much smaller but fulfill similar functions of storage and transport.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary functions of the vacuole. While oxygen and carbon dioxide are involved in cellular respiration, they are not stored within vacuoles. Proteins and enzymes are synthesized in the ribosomes and processed in other organelles rather than being contained within vacuoles. Ribosomes and DNA, being essential components for protein synthesis and genetic information, reside in different parts of the cell and are not stored in vacuoles. Therefore, the correct answer accurately describes the diverse functions of vacuoles in terms of their role in storage and maintenance of cellular homeostasis.