What is the purpose of a lysosome in a cell?

Lysosomes are organelles inside animal cells that are fully membrane-bound; they're not present in red blood cells, though, and fungi have a similar structure called vacuoles that serves the same purpose but actually is not considered a lysosome. Asfar as cellular components go, lysosomes are a relatively new discovery. read more

The primary purpose of a lysosome is to break down large molecules and waste products, though it has a few secondary functions as well. Formation of a Lysosome The enzyme proteins inside the lysosome are first created in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. read more

Lysosomes are one of the many types of organelles found in animal cells (cell biology). Lysosomes are tiny sacs filled with enzymes that enable the cell to process nutrients. They are also responsible for destroying the cell after it has died, which they do by a process called autolysis. Lysosomes are particularly abundant in liver and kidney cells. read more

The lysosomes are the garbage disposals of the cell. When a part of the cell becomes damaged or obsolete, it is moved to the outer edge of the lysosome. The membrane of the lysosome opens and the molecule is moved into the lysosome. read more