Why don't fungi die because of their own enzymes?

Question

If fungi secrete enzymes which can break down the food they feed on, how come the enzymes don't break down the fungi as well?
Aren't fungal cells made of the same things as their food? (carbs, proteins and fats)

Answer 1

Why pick on the fungi? You also secrete enzymes which can break down the food you feed on. Your cells are made of the same things as your food? (carbs, proteins and fats)

How come you never wondered why your enzymes don't break down your body as well? The same principles are at work in both cases. Heterotrophs avoid self-digestion through a number of methods.

We secrete our enzymes into the external environment rather than keeping them internal. The fact that in humans we have enveloped a chunk of the external world in a tube doesn't change the fact that the gut is outside the body topologically. Fungi of course simply secrete enzymes straight through the cell membrane. That alone removes most of the problem. Our external cell membranes are tough enough to resist most enzymes.

The second trick is to produce binary enzymes. Pro-enzyme B is secreted along with enzyme A. Enzyme A is specific for partially digesting pro-enzyme B. When Enzyme B is partially digested it becomes Enzyme C, which is very active. But because enzyme B never exists within the body it never poses any risk.

The third trick is that any internal enzymes are kept contained within cell membranes. That way they can't do any real damage.

Fungi don;t have any unique methods to avoid auto digestion. They use exactly the same tricks that the human body uses.

Answer 2

if fungal cells broke down due to the enzymes present in them then even are digestive system shud have been destroyed by now considerin the amount of HCL and other acids present in r system rquired to carry out digestion the same way the fungal cells may have some neutralising base present in them to null the effect of the enzymes present in their own body against them...

Answer 3

Enzymes are very specific biological catalysts that only works on targeted strutures of nutrients. The nutrients they feed on are different than that of the fungi itself, and hence the enzymes will not affect the fungi itself.

Answer 4

Why do clown fish live in poison anemone's
They are obviously immune.