We identify new organelles associated with the vacuolar system in plant cel
ls. These organelles are defined biochemically by their internal content of
three integral membrane proteins: a chimeric reporter protein that moves t
here directly from the ER; a specific tonoplast intrinsic protein; and a no
vel receptor-like RING-H2 protein that traffics through the Golgi apparatus
. Highly conserved homologues of the latter are expressed in animal cells.
In a developmentally regulated manner, the organelles are taken up into vac
uoles where, in seed protein storage vacuoles, they form a membrane-contain
ing crystalloid, The uptake and preservation of the contents of these organ
elles in vacuoles represents a unique mechanism for compartmentalization of
protein and lipid for storage.