Question

Why a cell still may escape damage even if its lysosomal contents are released into the cytoplasm?

Answer 1

50 years ago, Christian de Duve introduced the term “suicide bags” to describe lysosomes (1), the organelles containing numerous hydrolases, which were, until the discovery of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, thought to be responsible for the major part of the intracellular turnover of proteins and other macromolecules. It is well established now that the endosomal/lysosomal system has numerous other functions, including survival functions. Recently, lysosomes and lysosomal proteases were found to participate in cell death pathways, which, at least during apoptosis, are suicidal for cells. It seems timely therefore to discuss whether or not lysosomes in fact play suicidal roles in cellular processes.


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Answer 2

Answer:

The requirement of these lysosomal hydrolases for acidic pH provides double protection against uncontrolled digestion of the contents of the cytosol; even if the lysosomal membrane were to break down, the released acid hydrolases would be inactive at the neutral pH of the cytosol.