LYSOSOMES

Lysosomes are produce by golgi apparatus. They are spherical, small (0.2-0.5 µm) sacs covered by a single
membrane. The membrane is resistant to digestion and prevent the release of enzymes which would destroy the cell conyain. Lysosomes contain a high concentration of hydrolytic enzymes involved in intracellulr digestion such as RNAase, DNAase,protease, lipase, nd phosphatase which function at an acidic pH. Lysosomes are found in most eukaryotic cells. They are especially abundant in phagocytic cells.They are usually absen in plants excepts insectivorous plants e.g. Nepentes,Dionaea

 Function of lysosomes

a.       Digestion of ingested food

Primary lysosomes fuses with the food vacuole forming a secondary lysosomes, hydrolytic enzymes are released to breakdown the food into smaller particles for absorption.

b.      The worn out organelle e.g. mitochondrion is surrounded by SER to form an autophagosome. Lysosomes fuse with the autophagosomes and enzym are then released to digest the organelle. The procces called autophagy.

c.       In cell that carry out phgocytosis e.g. macrophagess the lysosomes fuse with the phagocytic vacuoles to break down the pathogenes.

d.      In old or damaged cell, enzym are released to digest the cell. The process is known as autolysis.