Question

Lysosomes take part in :

• A. Intracellular digestion
• B. Extracellular digestion
• C. Fat breakdown
• D. Both (A) and (B)

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both (A) and (B)

Lysosomes are small vesicles which are bounded by a single membrane and contains hydrolytic enzymes in the form of minute crystalline or semicrystalline granules of 5-8 nm. Lysosomes are the cell organelles which are called suicide bags because of the presence of a large number of digestive enzymes or acid hydrolases in them. Only a thin membrane separates the destructive enzymes from the rest of the cell. If the membrane happens to get broken, the various cellular constituents would undergo lysis. Lysosomes take part in intracellular digestion and extracellular digestion. Individual cells may obtain food through phagocytosis. The same is digested with the help of lysosomes. In this way lysosomes take part in intracellular digestion. For extracellular digestion, lysosomes release enzymes in the external environment through exocytosis.