LYSOSOMES

SUMMARY

1. The interior of lysosomes is more acidic than the rest of the cytoplasm and may contain endocytosed bacteria and worn-out cell components.

2. The interior is kept acidic by H-ATPase.

3. They contain acid hydrolases which function best in an acidic environment.

4. This is a safety feature of the cell: if the lysosomes were to break and release the contents, the enzymes would not destroy the cell.

Reference(s)

Barrett, K.E., Barman, S.M., Brooks, H.L., X, J. and Ganong, W.F. (2019). Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 26th ed. New York: Mcgraw-Hill Education