Lysosomák

Lysosomák are membrane-bound organelles found in eukaryotic cells. They contain a variety of hydrolytic enzymes that are capable of breaking down waste materials and cellular debris. Lysosomes play a crucial role in cellular digestion and waste removal.

The enzymes within lysosomes function optimally in an acidic environment, with a pH typically around 4.5 to 5.0. This acidity is maintained by proton pumps embedded in the lysosomal membrane, which actively transport hydrogen ions into the lysosome.

Lysosomes are involved in several essential cellular processes. Autophagy is one such process, where the cell degrades its own damaged or unnecessary components by engulfing them within a lysosome for degradation. Phagocytosis is another mechanism where lysosomes fuse with phagosomes, which are vesicles containing external materials taken into the cell, to break them down. Lysosomes are also involved in endocytosis, a process by which cells absorb molecules from outside the cell.

Defects in lysosomal function can lead to a group of genetic disorders known as lysosomal storage diseases. In these conditions, specific enzymes are deficient or absent, leading to the accumulation of undigested materials within the lysosomes. This accumulation can impair cellular function and lead to various symptoms, depending on the specific storage disease. Examples include Tay-Sachs disease and Gaucher disease.