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Cell biology

Lysosome

DELysosom

The lysosome is a membrane-bound compartment inside your cells. It is filled with acidic digestive enzymes (hydrolases). It breaks down proteins, fats, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Those arrive by endocytosis, phagocytosis, or autophagy. But it is more than a garbage disposal. It also acts as a metabolic and signaling hub. It senses nutrients through the mTORC1 pathway. When lysosomes fail, you get 'storage diseases'. And lysosomal decline contributes to aging. It impairs autophagy, the clearance of lipofuscin ('age pigment'), and overall waste management.

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Sources

  1. Ballabio A, Bonifacino JS. (2020). Lysosomes as dynamic regulators of cell and organismal homeostasis. *Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology*doi:10.1038/s41580-019-0185-4
  2. Settembre C, Di Malta C, Polito VA, et al.. (2011). TFEB links autophagy to lysosomal biogenesis. *Science*doi:10.1126/science.1204592