In the proposed work, we propose to consider the functions of lysosomes, their purpose. Among some destinations we will single out more substantial ones and write about them in more detail.
To begin with, everything is made up of cells. These structural units are so small that we can only see them in the laboratory using special equipment. Now we are talking about a microscope, for the first time they get acquainted with its device in high school. Teachers offer several laboratory works involving this tool for studying the arrangement of onion flakes or tree leaves.
A lysosome is an integral part of cells. We will continue to talk about it. Before considering the functions of lysosomes, we briefly talk about the structure and significance of this organoid.
Lysosomes
We have already indicated in the preface that these are the constituent parts of the cell, and when translated from Latin, they have a fairly understandable meaning - dissolution of the body. Lysosomes, the functions of which we will consider a little later, look like small organoids, they are surrounded by a membrane. The lysosome cavity is filled with hydrolytic enzymes, an acidic environment is constantly maintained in it. What else is characteristic of the organelle we are considering? It does not have a constant form; they are always very diverse. Their sizes are very small, since several hundreds of lysosomes can be contained in one cell. Their diameter is approximately 0.2 microns.
Appointment
Before we consider the list of lysosome functions in a list, we will slightly denote the value of this organelle in the cell. These points intersect greatly. It is important to mention that this organoid is absent in plant cells, but they are present in humans and fungi. They are formed in the Golgi complex. We have already said that their cavities contain a very large number of different enzymes, due to this, digestion in the cells occurs. Since these organelles are absent in plants, some of their functions are able to perform vacuoles.
Enzymes contained in these vesicles can break down:
- proteins;
- fats
- carbohydrates;
- nucleic acids.
Another task of lysosomes is the splitting of both individual parts and the entire cell. A good example here is the transformation of a tadpole into a frog. The tail disappears precisely under the influence of the enzymes of this organelle.
Functions
In this section, we propose listing the functions of lysosomes. The following can be distinguished:
- digestion in cells;
- autophagy;
- autolysis;
- dissolution.
In order to make it clearer, we explain the meaning of the words “autophagy” and “autolysis”. In the first case, it implies the destruction of unnecessary cell structures, and in the second, self-digestion of the cell (we already mentioned this earlier in the example of the tadpole and the frog). In the last paragraph, we had in mind the dissolution of external structures.
Digestion cells
When we examined the functions of the lysosome in the cell, we mentioned the ability of this organelle to carry out the digestion process in the cell. Before we begin to explain this function, we need to clarify that there are several types of lysosomes. Namely:
Primary lysosomes are also commonly called storage or storage granules. We in this matter are more interested in secondary organelles. Since this includes:
- digestive vacuole;
- autophagous vacuole;
- residual body.
In the digestive vacuole, the incoming substances are digested by hydrolysis. Digestion occurs, as a rule, to low molecular weight substances that can pass through the lysosome membrane. These substances are needed for important purposes - the synthesis of other organelles or intracellular structures.
Autophagy
The considered functions of the lysosome in the cell contain an item called "autophagy." We suggest a brief look at what this means. We have already said that this term refers to the destruction of unnecessary parts of the cell. This function is performed by secondary lysosomes, which are called autophagous vacuoles. They have a definite and permanent oval shape, the body is rather large. It contains:
- fragments of mitochondria;
- cytoplasmic reticulum;
- ribosomes and so on.
That is, the remains of the cell are contained there. They are susceptible to destruction by enzymes. The resulting residues do not disappear without a trace, but participate in other important processes.
These vacuoles can be found in a very large number in a number of cases, among which:
- starvation;
- intoxication;
- hypoxia;
- aging and so on.
Autolysis
So, what functions do lysosomes perform, we figured out. Now we propose to consider in more detail one more of them, namely, autolysis. Lysosome membranes can break down, then the enzymes are released and cease to carry out their normal activities, since the cytoplasm has a neutral environment, and the enzymes in it are simply inactivated.
There are times when such a destruction of all lysosomes occurs, which leads to the death of the entire cell. Two groups of autolysis can be distinguished:
- pathological (the most striking and common example is the destruction of tissues after death);
- normal.