Lysosome
This article describes an organelle, a cell component with its own distinctive structure and function. In eukaryotic cells, this is bounded by its own membrane, which is a lipid bilayer made of phospholipid.
Unless otherwise specified, information about this organelle is about its in situ occurrence in vivo, i.e., its occurrence in its usual location in living cells.
Lysosome (plural lysosomes) is an organelle whose primary function is the destruction, via digestion, of waste materials in the cell, and the recycling of the chemical constituents back to the cell for reuse.
Summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Type of organisms whose cells contain lysosomes | ? |
| Type of cells within the organisms that contain lysosomes | ? |
| Number of lysosomes per cell | ? |
| Size | per lysosome |
| Location within cell | ? |
| Structural components | ? |
| Chemical constituents | lytic enzymes, i.e., enzymes that aid in the digestion process. |
| Environment | Acidic pH, in the 4-5 range. |
| Control of the entry and exit of materials | |
| Function | Digestion of organelles, food particles, and viruses/bacteria |
| Evolutionary origin | ? |
| Variation between organisms | ? |
