Lysosomes

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Lysosomes

• Jessica Veitch

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What is a lysosome?

• A lysosome is an organelle which are found in
  many cells and is involved in many different cell
  activities
• There are spherical sacs bound by a single
  membrane.
• They contain many enzymes

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How are lysosomes formed?

• Lysosomes are formed by the Golgi apparatus in a
  cell.
• They are formed by budding and then released into
  the cell.

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Lysosome Functions

• Lysosomes are used to digest molecules from
• Phagocytosis
• Redundant organelles
• They are involved in autolysis leads to
  nickname of suicide bags
• They are also used to digest foreign bacteria
  inside a cell
• They help to mend the plasma membrane

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Lysosome Enzymes

• Lysosomes contain many enzymes which are used as
  degradative purposes.
• Some important enzymes in lysosomes are
• Lipase which digests lipids
• Carbohydrases which digest carbohydrates
• Proteases which digest proteins
• Nucleases which digest nucleic acids
• Phosphatases which digest phosphoric acid
  monoesters

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Other Facts

• Examples of when lysosomes break down tissue
• When tadpoles lose their tails
• When fetus lose their webbing
• The pH inside a lysosome is kept constant at 4.8
• Lysosomes were discovered in 1949 by Christian de
  Duve