Lyso = splitting and Soma = body. So, they are concerned with breaking activities. These are found only in eukaryotic cells.
They are bounded by a single membrane. This membrane forms a simple sac. This sac contains several hydrolytic enzymes like acid phosphatase.
Lysosome protects the body against invading organisms. They also engulf food particles. The foreign object (germ or food) fuses with the primary lysosomes to form secondary lysosomes. In secondary lysosomes, enzymes digest the food particles.
Sometimes under some abnormal conditions like starvation (3L) or normal physiological conditions, the primary lysosomes engulf the parts of the cell. It digests these parts and releases energy. The lysosomes which eat parts of its own cells are called autophagosomes. These autophagosomes are also secondary lysosomes.
Lysosome performs the following function.
Any foreign object which tries to enter the cell is engulfed by the lysosome. It is broken into digestible pieces. This process is known as phagocytosis (cell eating). The animals which show phagocytic activity have the most abundant lysosomes. Example: amoeba.
Lysosomes contain enzymes that can digest the phagocytosed food.
Lysosomes also release enzymes for extracellular digestion.
Sometimes, lysosomes break parts of their own cells. It is called autophagy. The cell contains some old, broken parts like old mitochondria. They are digested by the lysosomes. In this way, the material of the cell is recycled.
The enzymes of cells also cause degeneration of some cells. It may occur during some developmental processes, e.g. Sperms or tail in the development of larva of frog has degenerated.
Several congenital diseases are caused due to the accumulation of certain substances like glycogen and glycolipids. These are called storage diseases. These diseases are produced due to mutation (change in a gene). It affects lysosomal enzymes. These enzymes are involved in the catabolism of the above substances. About twenty such diseases are known today. These diseases are caused due to the absence of certain enzymes. Examples:
In this disease, the enzyme which breaks the glycogen into glucose is absent. So glycogen is filled in the membranous bound organelles of the cells of the muscles and liver.
In this disease, the enzyme which is involved in the catabolism of lipid is absent. It causes the accumulation of lipids in brain cells. This disease may cause mental retardation and even death.
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