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Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles found in [[Eukaryotic cells|Eukaryotic cells]]. They were first discovered by the belgian cytologist '[[Christian Rene de Duve|Christian Rene de duve]]' in the 1950s&nbsp;.<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/174733/Christian-Rene-de-Duve?anchor=ref23999</ref>  
Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles found in [[Eukaryotic cells|Eukaryotic cells]].&nbsp;They were first discovered by the belgian cytologist '[[Christian Rene de Duve|Christian Rene de duve]]' in the 1950s&nbsp;.<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/174733/Christian-Rene-de-Duve?anchor=ref23999</ref>&nbsp;They are around 0.5-1.0µm in diameter<ref>Hardin, J., Bertoni, G. and Kleinsmith L.  (2011), Becker’s World of The Cell, 8th edition, San Francisco, Pearson Education Inc.</ref>.


Lysosomes contain up to 40 different types of [[Hydrolytic enzymes|hydrolytic enzymes]] which control the digestion of macromolecules, such as [[Nucleic acids|nucleic acids]] and [[Proteins|proteins]], old cell parts, and other foriegn pathogens. Some of the most common lysosomal enzymes include [[Proteases|proteases]], [[Nucleases|nucleases]], [[Glycosidases|glycosidases]], [[Lipases|lipases]], [[Phospholipases|phospholipases]], [[Phosphatases|phosphatases]] and [[Sulfatases|sulfatases]] which are all [[Acid hydrolases|acid hydrolases]]&nbsp;<ref>Bruce Alberts [et al] "Molecular biology of the cell" 5th edition.</ref>.&nbsp;These enzymes optimum pH is at 4.5 - 5.5 which, compared to the cytosols pH of 7.2, is very acidic. The acidic pH of the lumen is maintained by a [[Vacular ATPase proton pump|vacular ATPase proton pump]] which pumps H<sup>+</sup> Into the lysosome. These conditions help protect the cell from possible 'leakages', as the hydrolytic enzymes would not be able to function in the neutral pH of the cytosol.&nbsp;<br>
Lysosomes contain up to 40 different types of [[Hydrolytic enzymes|hydrolytic enzymes]] which control the digestion of macromolecules, such as [[Nucleic acids|nucleic acids]] and [[Proteins|proteins]], old cell parts, and other foriegn pathogens. Some of the most common lysosomal enzymes include [[Proteases|proteases]], [[Nucleases|nucleases]], [[Glycosidases|glycosidases]], [[Lipases|lipases]], [[Phospholipases|phospholipases]], [[Phosphatases|phosphatases]] and [[Sulfatases|sulfatases]] which are all [[Acid hydrolases|acid hydrolases]]&nbsp;<ref>Bruce Alberts [et al] "Molecular biology of the cell" 5th edition.</ref>.&nbsp;These enzymes optimum pH is at 4.5 - 5.5 which, compared to the cytosols pH of 7.2, is very acidic. The acidic pH of the lumen is maintained by a [[Vacular ATPase proton pump|vacular ATPase proton pump]] which pumps H<sup>+</sup> Into the lysosome. These conditions help protect the cell from possible 'leakages', as the hydrolytic enzymes would not be able to function in the neutral pH of the cytosol.&nbsp;<br>  


Lysosomes are linked to a number of pathways, mainly [[Endocytosis|''endocytosis'']], ''[[Autophagy|autophagy]]'' and ''[[Phagocytosis|phagocytosis]]''.&nbsp;<br>
Lysosomes are linked to a number of pathways, mainly [[Endocytosis|''endocytosis'']], ''[[Autophagy|autophagy]]'' and ''[[Phagocytosis|phagocytosis]]''.&nbsp;<br>  


=== Endocytosis:  ===
=== Endocytosis:  ===


In endocytosis, [[Molecule|molecules]] are taken in from the outside the cell and packaged into [[Vesicles|vesicles]]. These vesicles containing macromolecules and other small substances fuse with [[Organelles|organelles]] inside the cell called [[Early endosomes|early endosomes]], which mature into [[Late endosomes|late endosomes]] by becoming more acidic (roughly pH 6) due to the [[V-ATPase|V-ATPase]]. It is here, in the late endosomes, where the digestion of the macromolecule starts. [[Late endosomes|Late endosomes]] are sometimes known as [[Multivesicular bodies|multivesicular bodies]] (MVBs) as during the mauturing stage, some molecules are sorted into smaller vesicles, forming lumenal vesicals in the endosome lumen. Before the late endosomes fuse with a lysosome, they replace the [[RAB5|RAB5]] [[GTPase|GTPase]] with [[RAB7|RAB7]]&nbsp;<ref>Cell, Volume 122, Issue 5 2005, Rab Conversion as a Mechanism of Progression from Early to Late Endosomes: http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867405006975</ref>.<br>
In endocytosis, [[Molecule|molecules]] are taken in from the outside the cell and packaged into [[Vesicles|vesicles]]. These vesicles containing macromolecules and other small substances fuse with [[Organelles|organelles]] inside the cell called [[Early endosomes|early endosomes]], which mature into [[Late endosomes|late endosomes]] by becoming more acidic (roughly pH 6) due to the [[V-ATPase|V-ATPase]]. It is here, in the late endosomes, where the digestion of the macromolecule starts. [[Late endosomes|Late endosomes]] are sometimes known as [[Multivesicular bodies|multivesicular bodies]] (MVBs) as during the mauturing stage, some molecules are sorted into smaller vesicles, forming lumenal vesicals in the endosome lumen. Before the late endosomes fuse with a lysosome, they replace the [[RAB5|RAB5]] [[GTPase|GTPase]] with [[RAB7|RAB7]]&nbsp;<ref>Cell, Volume 122, Issue 5 2005, Rab Conversion as a Mechanism of Progression from Early to Late Endosomes: http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867405006975</ref>.<br>  


=== Autophagy:  ===
=== Autophagy:  ===


Autophagy or autophagocytosis, uses lysosomes to digest parts of the cell that are no longer needed. For a autophagosome to form, a double membrane forms around the unwanted molecule, which then fuses with a lysosome. The contents of which are digested by the lysosomal enzymes. Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the basic cell contents, but also plays a role in protecting the cell against certain pathogens and also maintaining the cells nutrient levels when starvation occurs making sure the cells vital processes can continue.<br>
Autophagy or autophagocytosis, uses lysosomes to digest parts of the cell that are no longer needed. For a autophagosome to form, a double membrane forms around the unwanted molecule, which then fuses with a lysosome. The contents of which are digested by the lysosomal enzymes. Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the basic cell contents, but also plays a role in protecting the cell against certain pathogens and also maintaining the cells nutrient levels when starvation occurs making sure the cells vital processes can continue.<br>  


=== References:<br> ===
=== References:<br> ===


<references />
<references />

Revision as of 11:29, 26 November 2013

Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles found in Eukaryotic cells. They were first discovered by the belgian cytologist 'Christian Rene de duve' in the 1950s .[1] They are around 0.5-1.0µm in diameter[2].

Lysosomes contain up to 40 different types of hydrolytic enzymes which control the digestion of macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, old cell parts, and other foriegn pathogens. Some of the most common lysosomal enzymes include proteases, nucleases, glycosidases, lipases, phospholipases, phosphatases and sulfatases which are all acid hydrolases [3]. These enzymes optimum pH is at 4.5 - 5.5 which, compared to the cytosols pH of 7.2, is very acidic. The acidic pH of the lumen is maintained by a vacular ATPase proton pump which pumps H+ Into the lysosome. These conditions help protect the cell from possible 'leakages', as the hydrolytic enzymes would not be able to function in the neutral pH of the cytosol. 

Lysosomes are linked to a number of pathways, mainly endocytosis, autophagy and phagocytosis

Endocytosis:

In endocytosis, molecules are taken in from the outside the cell and packaged into vesicles. These vesicles containing macromolecules and other small substances fuse with organelles inside the cell called early endosomes, which mature into late endosomes by becoming more acidic (roughly pH 6) due to the V-ATPase. It is here, in the late endosomes, where the digestion of the macromolecule starts. Late endosomes are sometimes known as multivesicular bodies (MVBs) as during the mauturing stage, some molecules are sorted into smaller vesicles, forming lumenal vesicals in the endosome lumen. Before the late endosomes fuse with a lysosome, they replace the RAB5 GTPase with RAB7 [4].

Autophagy:

Autophagy or autophagocytosis, uses lysosomes to digest parts of the cell that are no longer needed. For a autophagosome to form, a double membrane forms around the unwanted molecule, which then fuses with a lysosome. The contents of which are digested by the lysosomal enzymes. Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the basic cell contents, but also plays a role in protecting the cell against certain pathogens and also maintaining the cells nutrient levels when starvation occurs making sure the cells vital processes can continue.

References:

  1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/174733/Christian-Rene-de-Duve?anchor=ref23999
  2. Hardin, J., Bertoni, G. and Kleinsmith L. (2011), Becker’s World of The Cell, 8th edition, San Francisco, Pearson Education Inc.
  3. Bruce Alberts [et al] "Molecular biology of the cell" 5th edition.
  4. Cell, Volume 122, Issue 5 2005, Rab Conversion as a Mechanism of Progression from Early to Late Endosomes: http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867405006975