Ultra-structure of Lysosome and its functions

1. Ultra-structure of Lysosome and its
functions
Dhole N. A.
Department of Botany,
Digambarrao Bindu ACS College, Bhokar

2. Lysosomes:
• lysosome, subcellular organelle that is found in nearly all types of eukaryotic
cells (cells with a clearly defined nucleus) and that is responsible for the
digestion of macromolecules, old cells parts, and microorganisms.
• Each lysosome is surrounded by a membrane that maintains an acidic
ebvironment within the interior via a proton pump.
• Lysosomes contain a wide variety of hydrolytic enzymes (acid hydrolases)
that break down macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and
polysaccharides.

3. • These enzymes are active only in the lysosome’s acidic interior; their acid-
dependent activity protects the cell from self-degradation in case of
lysosomal leakage or rupture, since the pH of the cell is neutral to slightly
alkaline.
• Lysosomes were discovered by the Belgian cytologist Christian Rene de Duve
in the 1950s. (De Duve was awarded a share of the 1974 Nobel Prize for
Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of lysosomes and other organelles
known as peroxisomes.)

4. https://www.britannica.com/science/Pompes-disease https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/lysosomes/

5. • Lysosomes are membrane-bound, dense granular structures containing
hydrolytic enzymes responsible mainly for intracellular and extracellular
digestion.
• The word “lysosome” is made up of two words “lysis” meaning breakdown
and “soma” meaning body.
• It is an important cell organelle responsible for the inter and extracellular
breakdown of substances.
• They are more commonly found in animal cells while only in some lower
plant groups ( slime molds and saprophytic fungi).
• Lysosomes occur freely in the cytoplasm. In animals, found in almost all cells
except in the RBCs.
• They are found in most abundant numbers in cells related to enzymatic
reactions such as liver cells, pancreatic cells, kidney cells, spleen cells,
leucocytes, macrophages, etc.

6. Structure of Lysosomes:
• Lysosomes are without any characteristic shape or structure i.e. they are
pleomorphic
• They are mostly globular or granular in appearance.
• It is 0.2-0.5 μm in size and is surrounded by a single lipoprotein membrane unique
in composition.
• The membrane contains highly glycosylated lysosomal associated membrane
proteins (LAMP) and Lysosomal integral membrane proteins (LIMP).
• LAMPs and LIMPs form a coat on the inner surface of the membrane
• They protect the membrane from attack by the numerous hydrolytic enzymes
retained inside.
• The lysosomal membrane has a hydrogen proton pump which is responsible for
maintaining pH conditions of the enzyme The acidic medium maintained by the
proton pump that pumps H+ inside the lumen, ensures the functionality of the
lysosomal enzymes.
• Inside the membrane, the organelle contains enzymes in the crystalline form.

7. Lysosomal Enzymes :
• For degradation of extra and intracellular material, lysosomes filled with
enzymes called hydrolases. It contains about 40 varieties of enzymes which
are classified into the following main types, namely:
• Proteases, which digest proteins
• Lipases, which digests lipids
• Amylase, which digests carbohydrates
• Nucleases, which digest nucleic acids
• Phosphoric acid monoesters
• Collectively the group of enzymes is called hydrolases which cause cleavage
of substrates by the addition of water molecules. Most of the lysosomal
enzymes function in the acidic medium.

8. Lysosomal Membrane:
•As compared to the mitochondria, it is slightly thicker.
•Sialic acid is present in it.
•Since the lysosomal membrane protein is highly glycosylated, it
protects from the action of the lysosomal proteases.
•The lysosomal membrane can fuse with the other membranes of the
cell which is the unique property.
•When the lysosomal membrane ruptures, lysosomal enzymes are
released.
•It can be caused by the destabilizing influence of the surface-active
agents and the steroid sex hormones.
•The lysosomal membrane is stabilized by cortisone and hydrocortisone.

9. • The margins of each cisterna are gently curved so that the entire dictyosome
•On the tissue, they possess an anti-inflammatory effect.
•Within the lysosome all the process of digestion takes place.
•For the action of the lysosomal enzyme, the medium should be acidic.
•To maintain the acidic condition inside the organelle, there should be an
accumulation of the H+.
•It is maintained by the proton pump which is ATP-dependent.
•Transport protein is also present in the lysosomal membrane.
•When the macromolecules get digested, the final products can be
transported by these proteins.
•After the transportation, they can be further utilized by the cell or be
excreted.

10. Types of Lysosomes:
Polymorphism can be seen in the morphology of the lysosome.
There are four types of lysosomes.
• Primary lysosome
• Heterophagosomes
• Autophagososomes
• Residual Bodies

11. A. Primary Lysosomes:
• They are also called:
• Storage granules
• Protolysosomes
• The primary lysosome is bounded by a single membrane.
• It has a diameter of 100nm.
• A digestive enzyme is present in it which has not taken part in the digestion.
• One type of enzyme or another is present in it.
• Only in the secondary lysosome, there is the presence of the full complement
of acid hydrolases.

12. B. Heterophagosomes:
• They are also called:
• heterophagic vacuoles
• heterolysosomes
• Phagolysosomes
• When the primary lysosome fuse with the cytoplasmic vacuoles, a
heterophagosome is formed.
• Extracellular substances are present in the cytoplasmic vacuoles.
• Different endocytic processes like pinocytosis, phagocytosis, or receptor-mediated
endocytosis help in bringing such extracellular substances into the cell.
• In these secondary lysosomes, there is the presence of the hydrolytic enzymes
which digest the engulfed substances.
• After digestion, such particles will pass across the membrane of the lysosome.
• Then it will become part of the matrix.

13. C. Autophagosomes
• They are also called:
• Autophagic vacuole
• cytolysosomes
• Autolysosomes
• Digestion of the different intracellular structures like mitochondria,
ribosomes, peroxisome, and glycogen granules can be done by the primary
lysosome.
• Autophagy is called autodigestion.
• During cell growth and repair, autophagy is a normal event.
• It is prevalent in the differentiation, the dedifferentiation of the tissues and
tissue under stress.

14. Autophagy occurs in different forms:
i. By fusion of the lysosome:
• It is enclosed inside the double membrane sac.
• Then there is the breakdown of the inner membrane.
• Penetration of the enzyme can occur to the enclosed organelle.
ii. Formation of a vesicle and fusion with primary lysosome:
• Vesicle is formed when the smooth endoplasmic reticulum encases the
organelle which needs to be digested.
• Microautophagy also takes place. When the digestion process proceeds then
it becomes difficult to identify the type of secondary lysosome if it is
heterophagosome or autophagosome. So, in this stage, it is said as the
digestive vacuole.

15. D. Residual Bodies:
• They are also called:
• Telolysosome
• Dense bodies
• Incomplete digestion results in the formation of the residual bodies.
• When some lysosomal enzymes are absent, incomplete digestion may occur.
• Inside the digestive vacuoles, the undigested food remains as the residue.
• Then they make take different forms.
• Residue body is larger and irregular in shape.
• By the defecation, residual bodies are eliminated in the case of Amoeba and
some other protozoa.
• In some cells, for a longer period, the residual body may stay which may
cause aging.

16. Functions of Lysosomes:
Lysosomes serve two major functions:
1.Intracellular Digestion
• To digest food, the lysosome membrane fuses with the membrane of food vacuole and
squirts the enzymes inside.
• The digested food then diffuses through the vacuole membrane and enters the cell to be
used for energy and growth.
2.Autolytic Action
• Cell organelles that need to be ridden are covered by vesicles or vacuoles by the process
of autophagy to form autophagosome.
• The autophagosome is then destroyed by the action of lysosomal enzymes.
• Processes in which lysosomes play crucial roles include:
a. Heterophagy
• The taking into the cell of exogenous material by phagocytosis or pinocytosis and the
digestion of the ingested material after fusion of the newly formed vacuole with a
lysosome.

17. b. Autophagy
• A normal physiological process that deals with the destruction of cells in the body.
It is essential for maintaining homeostasis, for normal functioning by protein
degradation, turnover of destroyed cell organelles for new cell formation
c. Extracellular Digestion
• Primary lysosomes secrete hydrolases outside by exocytosis resulting in
degradation of extracellular materials.
• Eg. Saprophytic fungi
d. Autolysis
• It refers to the killing of an entire set of cells by the breakdown of the lysosomal
membrane. It occurs during amphibian and insect metamorphosis.
e. Fertilization
• The acrosome of the sperm head is a giant lysosome that ruptures and releases
enzymes on the surface of the egg. This provides the way for sperm entry into the
egg by digesting the egg membrane.

18. References:
• https://www.britannica.com/science/lysosome
• https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/lysosomes/
• https://microbenotes.com/lysosomes-structure-enzymes-types-
functions/

19. Thank you