Lysosomes

Introduction: We all know about the cell and its functions. There are many sub organelles in the cells to perform multiple functions. Lysosomes are one of the subcellular organelle found in animals and plants. They play many vital roles in a biological body. Lysosomes are seen within the cell membrane and are scattered in the cytoplasm. In this article, we will briefly discuss lysosomes, the discovery of lysosomes, the structure of lysosomes, the location of lysosomes, the functions of lysosomes, and lysosomal disorders.

Lysosomes are one of the subcellular organelle found in animals and plants. Lysosomes are found in cells with a proper nucleus (eukaryotic cells). The main function performed by this small membrane-bound cell organelle is the digestion of macromolecules. The lysosome is an organelle of the cell that has a vital role in breaking down substances that have been broken down by other parts of the cell. Hydrolytic enzymes which are present in the Lysosomes help in the breakdown of macromolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids). They also digest cellular debris from the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Autophagy is the name of the process by which lysosomes digests a cell’s organic materials.

Discovery of lysosomes:

Centrifugation had an important role in the discovery of lysosomes. Using this method various components of cells were separated. Christian Rene de Duve, a Belgian scientist, discovered lysosomes. He was studying the carbohydrate metabolism of the liver and observed that the acid phosphatase enzyme was secreted in higher amounts. Rene de Duve identified and obtained images of a membrane-bound organelle in the cell using an electron microscope, by estimating the size of the organelle, he named it the lysosome. In 1974, Christian Rene de Duve won the Nobel prize for discovering lysosomes.

Structure of lysosomes

Lysosomes have a spherical organelle that is small in size. Their size ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 µm. They are made up of lipid bilayers that help to store fluids of lysosomes that contain hydrolytic enzymes.

Phospholipids are lipids that involve constructing the lipid bilayer of lysosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and nucleus are surrounded by a nuclear envelope. Phospholipids are used to make these nuclear envelopes.

Location of lysosomes: Lysosomes are seen within the cell membrane and are scattered in the cytoplasm. 

Functions of lysosomes: 

Lysosomes have many functions but there are 3 important functions: 

• Cell membrane repairs
• Digestion (breakdown) of macromolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids)
• Responses against foreign particles (antigen, virus and bacteria)

Hydrolytic enzymes in the lysosomes are used to kill the disease-causing foreign particles (antigen, virus and bacteria) that enter the cell. WBC (white blood cells), which are also called macrophages, play a vital role in a human’s immune system. Lysosomes are seen more in these types of cells to boost immunity. When a pathogen enters the cell, the macrophages engulf those pathogens by folding them. The engulfed pathogen then becomes a vesicle. The formed vesicle is now fused with lysosomes. The hydrolytic enzymes of lysosomes destroy the foreign pathogen. This is how lysosomes are involved in our immunity.

For maintaining homeostasis lysosomes perform autophagy. This happens by destroying the cells in the body. This process has an important role in new cell formation and protein degradation. The lysosome is an organelle of the cell that has a vital role in breaking down substances that have been broken down by other parts of the cell. Hydrolytic enzymes which are present in the Lysosomes help in the breakdown of macromolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids). They also digest cellular debris from the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.

Lysosome disorders 

There are many diseases caused by lysosomal disorders. Here the Hydrolytic enzymes in the lysosomes may be inactive. In lysosomal disorders, the normal digestion of a specific macromolecule may be affected. This may end up with the accumulation of that specific macromolecule. This will cause many severe damages and deformities. Hurler syndrome, Tay Sachs disease are some examples (diseases caused by lysosomal disorders).

Conclusion:

In this article, we discussed lysosomes, the discovery of lysosomes, the structure of lysosomes, the location of lysosomes, the functions of lysosomes and lysosomal disorders. Lysosomes are one of the subcellular organelle seen in animals and plants. Lysosomes are seen in cells with a proper nucleus (eukaryotic cells). The main function performed by lysosomes is the digestion of macromolecules. The lysosome is an organelle of the cell that has a vital role in breaking down substances that have been broken down by other parts of the cell. Hydrolytic enzymes that are present in the Lysosomes help in the breakdown of macromolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids). Lysosomes are seen within the cell membrane and are scattered in the cytoplasm. Lysosomes have a spherical structure, and they are small organelle structures. Their size ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 µm. They are made up of lipid bilayers that help to store fluids that contain hydrolytic enzymes.