Lysosomes function as the digestive system of the cell, serving both to degrade material taken up from outside the cell and to digest obsolete components of the cell itself.
The pH level of the lumen lies between 4.5 and 5.0, which makes it quite acidic. It is almost comparable to the function of acids found in the stomach.
Besides breaking down biological polymers, lysosomes are also involved in various other cell processes such as counting discharged materials, energy metabolism, cell signalling, and restoration of the plasma membrane.
The sizes of lysosomes vary, with the largest ones measuring in more at than 1.2 μm. But they typically range from 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm.
Why are Lysosomes known as Suicidal Bags?
As stated before, lysosomes work as the waste discarding structures of the cell by processing undesirable materials and degrading them, both from the exterior of the cell and waste constituents inside the cell.
But sometimes, the digestive enzymes may end up damaging the lysosomes themselves, and this can cause the cell to die. This is termed as catalysis, where “auto” means “self” and “dialysis” means “the disintegration of the cell by the destruction of its cell membrane“.
Hence, lysosomes are known as “Suicidal Bags” of the cell.
How do the Lysosomes function?
The key function of lysosomes is digestion and removal of waste. Cellular debris or foreign particles are pulled in to the cell through the process of endometriosis. The process of endometriosis happens when the cell membrane falls in on itself (imagination), creating a vacuole or a pouch around the external contents and then bringing those contents into the cell.
On the other hand, discarded wastes and other substances originating from within the cell is digested by the process of autobiographers or autophagy. The process of autophagy involves disassembly or degradation of the cellular components through a natural, regulated mechanism.
Where are Lysosomal Enzymes made?
Lysosomes comprise of over 50 different enzymes. They are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Once synthesized, the enzymes are brought in from the Golgi apparatus in tiny vesicles or sacs, which then merges with bigger acidic vesicles.
The enzymes produced especially for lysosomes are mixed with the molecule man nose 6-phosphate making them get fixed appropriately up into acidified vesicles.
Lysosomal Disease
Production of enzymes of the lysosomes is organized by nuclear genes. Nuclear genes are genes which are located within the nucleus of a cell, specifically in eukaryotes.
Any mutations in these genes may result in the emergence of over 30 diverse human genetic ailments, which are collectively called lysosomal storage diseases (LSD).
When such a mutation occurs, the molecules accumulate within the cell and eventually kills it. This can lead to cancer and a host of other diseases ranging from cardiovascular diseases, demonstrativeness disorders and ageing-associated ailments.
Lysosomes in Plant Cell.
Lysosomes are predominantly found in eukaryotic animal cells and are responsible for breaking down cellular debris. In plants, the role of lysosomes is undertaken by the vacuoles as traditional cell biology dictates.
However, recent discoveries point out that the function of vacuoles is quite similar to the functions of a lysosome in animal cells. Furthermore, findings suggest that these vacuoles possess hydrolysis enzymes similar to the ones found in animal cells.
So some botanists have challenged the definition of a vacuole. In other words, it sparked a controversy that pits the definition of the two cellular organelles, with some saying that both perform similar tasks.
Summary
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Lysosomes are cell organelles almost exclusively found in eukaryotic animal cells
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Lysosomes are membrane-bound spherical sacs filled with hydrolysis enzymes
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These enzymes can break down many types of bio molecules such as proteins and fats
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They are not found in plants, but vacuoles perform the role of lysosomes in plant cells
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Lysosomes are known as Suicidal Bags as they tend to destroy the cell membrane with its digestive enzymes, causing dialysis of the cell (also called catalysis)
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Lysosomal enzymes are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, where they are brought in by the Golgi apparatus through tiny vesicles. It eventually merges with bigger acidic vesicles
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Mutations of the nuclear gene may result in the emergence of rare, diverse human genetic ailments, which are called lysosomal storage diseases or LSD
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Who discovered Lysosomes?
Lysosomes were discovered by a Belgian biologist, Christian de Duse, and was awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology in the year 1974. He is also known for the discovery of other cellular organelles known as peroxides.
What is a lumen in a lysosomes?
Lumen is the area within the membrane-bound exterior of the lysosome. It contains cellular debris suspended in hydrolysis enzymes. It is also acidic, with a pH ranging between 4.0 to 5.0.
Why are Lysosomes known as Suicidal Bags?
The main function of lysosomes is to breakdown and recycle cellular debris, discarded cellular contents and foreign pathogens, however, the digestive enzymes may end up bursting from the lysosomes, damaging the cell themselves, and this can cause the cell to die.
Where are the enzymes needed by lysosomes made?
The enzymes are synthesized in the rough cytoplasmic reticulum and once synthesized; the enzymes are brought in from the Golgi apparatus in tiny vesicles, which then fuses with the bigger acidic vesicles in the cells.
What are lysosomal storage diseases?
Any mutations that occur in the nuclear genes may result in over 30 diverse human genetic ailments. These ailments are collectively called lysosomal storage diseases (LSD).
