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A lysosome (/ ˈ l aɪ s ə ˌ s oʊ m /) is a single membrane-bound organelle found in many animal cells. [1] [2] They are spherical vesicles that contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest many kinds of biomolecules. A lysosome has a specific composition, of both its membrane proteins and its lumenal proteins.
Hydrolase enzymes are important for the body because they have degradative properties. In lipids, lipases contribute to the breakdown of fats and lipoproteins and other larger molecules into smaller molecules like fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids and other small molecules are used for synthesis and as a source of energy. [1]
Like lysosomes of animal cells, vacuoles have an acidic pH and contain hydrolytic enzymes. The pH of vacuoles enables them to perform homeostatic procedures in the cell. For example, when the pH in the cells environment drops, the H + ions surging into the cytosol can be transferred to a vacuole in order to keep the cytosol's pH constant. [33]
Intracellular digestion can also refer to the process in which animals that lack a digestive tract bring food items into the cell for the purposes of digestion for nutritional needs. This kind of intracellular digestion occurs in many unicellular protozoans, in Pycnogonida , in some molluscs , Cnidaria and Porifera .
Typical eukaryotic animal cell structure. Eukaryotes have a nucleus where DNA is contained. They are usually larger than prokaryotes and contain many more organelles. The nucleus, the feature of a eukaryote that distinguishes it from a prokaryote, contains a nuclear envelope, nucleolus and chromatin.
Glycoside hydrolases are found in essentially all domains of life. In prokaryotes , they are found both as intracellular and extracellular enzymes that are largely involved in nutrient acquisition. One of the important occurrences of glycoside hydrolases in bacteria is the enzyme beta-galactosidase (LacZ), which is involved in regulation of ...
Phagolysosome Formation: The maturing phagosome fuses with lysosomes, forming a phagolysosome. This fusion delivers hydrolytic enzymes into the phagosome, initiating the degradation of the engulfed material. [9] Cargo Degradation: Within the phagolysosome, degradation of the cargo begins, often starting with the breakdown of the cargo's membrane.
Enzymes of the NUDIX superfamily are found in all types of organisms, including eukaryotes, bacteria and archaea. [ 3 ] There are two components to the NUDIX family: the so-called NUDIX fold of a beta sheet with alpha helices on each side and the NUDIX motif which contains catalytic and metal-binding amino acids .