What are Lysosomes?
The membrane-bound cell organelles that contain digestive enzymes are called Lysosomes. It has chemicals that can destroy any toxic produced in the cell or which invades the cell.
Every cell produces a lot of waste materials, which can be harmful. Even many foreign particles enter the cell.
Lysosomes are a bag of enzymes that can digest these organic materials.
Among different enzymes, mostly the hydrolytic enzymes are found in the lysosomes which cut down organic substances into smaller fragments.
What are the functions of Lysosomes?
- Whenever a foreign body like bacteria invades the cell, or when the older organelles are worn out, lysosomes engulf the target body and digest it within
- Sometimes, the cell abruptly loses its control and starts behaving strangely. At this time, if left uncontrolled, there are chances that the surrounding cells can also get
- The lysosomes, in such cases, burst open and all the digestive enzymes within them spread throughout the cytoplasm.
- This results in the death of the cell as all the cellular contents get chewed up by the enzymes.
- Thus, the lysosomes help in the death of the cell and hence, also called Suicide
Working of Lysosomes