♻️ LYSOSOMES: RECYCLER
PAGE 1 OF 5 — THE CLEANUP CREW
THE HOOK
THE CELL'S DIGESTIVE STOMACH
Cells make messes: worn-out parts, broken molecules, and sometimes invaders like bacteria. Lysosomes are small, membrane-bound organelles packed with powerful digestive enzymes that break all of that down. Belgian scientist Christian de Duve discovered lysosomes in 1955 and later won a Nobel Prize for the work. Think of each lysosome as a tiny recycling plant with acid inside, ready to dissolve waste and return useful building blocks to the cell.
⚡ DID YOU KNOW?
The name "lysosome" comes from Greek words meaning "break" and "body." de Duve chose it because these organelles break down other material inside the cell. A single cell can contain hundreds of lysosomes.
RECYCLE!
MEMBRANE
🫧 Each lysosome is a membrane-bound sac
🔒 The membrane keeps enzymes safely inside
🔒 The membrane keeps enzymes safely inside
ENZYMES
🧪 Packed with hydrolytic digestive enzymes
✂️ They chop proteins, fats, and other molecules
✂️ They chop proteins, fats, and other molecules