What do lysosomes do in a cell?

A lysosome is basically a specialized vesicle that holds a variety of enzymes. The enzyme proteins are first created in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Those proteins are packaged in a vesicle and sent to the Golgi apparatus. read more

The lysosomes also act as the waste disposal system of the cell by digesting unwanted materials in the cytoplasm, both from outside the cell and obsolete components inside the cell. Material from outside the cell is taken-up through endocytosis, while material from the inside of the cell is digested through autophagy. read more

The lysosomes go to work even if there is no food for the cell. read more

In an animal cell, the lysosome acts as a basic digestive system, working to break down nutrients that enter the cell. The enzymes a lysosome contains can break down beneficial materials, bacteria and waste materials that enter the cell, allowing the body to obtain nutrients and remove unneeded materials. read more