LYSOSOMA Meaning and
Definition
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A lysosome is a specialized organelle found primarily in animal cells, as well as some plant and fungal cells. It is a membrane-bound structure that functions as the cell's recycling center and waste disposal system.
Lysosomes contain various enzymes, known as acid hydrolases, that are responsible for breaking down and digesting unwanted materials within the cell, such as cellular waste products, old or damaged organelles, and foreign substances like bacteria or viruses. The acidic environment inside lysosomes, maintained by proton pumps in the membrane, facilitates the activity of these enzymes while protecting the rest of the cell from their potentially harmful effects.
The breakdown products generated by lysosomal enzymes can be recycled and used to build new cellular components or expelled from the cell as waste. This process, known as autophagy, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing the accumulation of harmful or unnecessary materials.
Lysosomes also participate in a variety of other cellular functions, including cell signaling, plasma membrane repair, and cell death regulation. Defects or malfunctions in lysosomal function can lead to the development of lysosomal storage diseases, where toxic substances accumulate within cells, causing various health problems.
Common Misspellings for LYSOSOMA
- kysosoma
- pysosoma
- oysosoma
- ltsosoma
- lgsosoma
- lhsosoma
- lusosoma
- l7sosoma
- l6sosoma
- lyaosoma
- lyzosoma
- lyxosoma
- lydosoma
- lyeosoma
- lywosoma
- lysisoma
- lysksoma
- lyslsoma
- lyspsoma
- lys0soma
Etymology of LYSOSOMA
The word "lysosoma" is derived from two Greek words: "lysis" (λύσις), meaning "loosening" or "dissolving", and "soma" (σῶμα), meaning "body". The term was coined by Belgian cytologist Christian de Duve in 1955 to describe the membrane-bound organelles within cells that contain enzymes capable of breaking down various biological materials. This naming reflects the function of lysosomes in breaking down and recycling cellular waste products, foreign particles, and damaged or worn-out organelles.
