lizozomal

Lizozomal refers to lysosomes, the organelles responsible for degradation and recycling of cellular materials in many eukaryotic cells. Lysosomes are membrane-bound compartments containing hydrolytic enzymes that operate best at acidic pH and participate in autophagy, endocytosis, and macromolecule turnover.

Lysosomal enzymes include proteases, nucleases, lipases, glycosidases, and phosphatases. The lysosome’s interior is kept acidic by proton pumps, and the lysosomal membrane protects cytosolic components from enzymatic attack while mediating fusion with vesicles and substrates destined for digestion.

Most lysosomal hydrolases are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and trafficked to lysosomes via the Golgi apparatus, where they receive a mannose-6-phosphate tag that directs delivery to late endosomes and lysosomes. Lysosomal membrane proteins, such as LAMPs, support membrane integrity and trafficking during turnover.

In cellular physiology, lysosomes contribute to nutrient sensing, energy homeostasis, and signaling in addition to degradation. Defects in lysosomal enzymes or trafficking cause lysosomal storage disorders, such as Gaucher disease or Niemann-Pick disease, often with substrate accumulation and organ dysfunction. Treatments include enzyme replacement therapy, substrate reduction therapy, pharmacological chaperones, and emerging gene therapies.

Historically, lysosomes were identified in the 1950s by Christian de Duve, who linked their function to intracellular digestion. The term lysosome derives from Greek meaning “breakdown body.” The spelling lizozomal appears in some texts as an alternative, though lysosomal is standard in most literature.