Which organelle is responsible for packaging and distributing proteins?

The Golgi apparatus is the organelle responsible for packaging and distributing proteins within the cell. It functions like a post office, where it receives proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, modifies them as needed, and then sorts and packages them into vesicles for transport to their final destinations. This ensures that proteins are properly processed and directed to where they are needed, whether that's within the cell, to the cell membrane, or for secretion outside the cell.

In contrast, vesicles are small membrane-bound sacs that transport substances within the cell but do not perform the packaging and sorting function themselves. Lysosomes are primarily involved in digestion and waste processing, breaking down macromolecules and cellular debris. The endoplasmic reticulum, while involved in synthesizing proteins, mainly focuses on their initial formation and folding rather than packaging and distribution. Thus, the Golgi apparatus plays a crucial role in the later stages of protein processing, making it the correct answer.