Picture --- This is a photograph of a Lysosome. The macromolecule are absorbed into the membrane, and are broken down by the different enzymes.
Lysosomes (or Lysozomes) are found n eucaryotic cells, and digest macromolecules for the cell. They are sacs with 40 digestive acid enzymes that break the macromolecules down. The macromolecules include nucleic acids, proteins, and poly saccharides. These enzymes work in the lysosomes interior because they are acid dependent, and this protects them from breaking themselves down in case the lysosome starts to leak, or has a rip in it's membrane. They also take in and break down older organelles that don't work in the cell anymore. When the organelle ceases to work, or starts to "die" the lysosome will digest the useless organelle, so that the products of it can be used once again to make new organelles.
Diagram --- This is a slice away veiw of a lysosome. The small sections are the different enzymes used to breakdown the macromolecules.
The Golgi
Complex forms the primary and secondary lysosomes that go through their
final formation stages on each of the Endoplasmic Reticulums (ERs). Primary
Lysosomes form on the Rough
ER, and secondarys form on the Smooth
ER. So that the lysosomes can take in the useless organelles and other
macromolecues, they bond with Phagosomes that use phagocytosis to take in
the macromolecules sthat the lysosomes can break them down. These work together
as a digestive vacuole.
