why enzymes of lysosomes doesn't digest itself?

Answer 1

wrong. i remember in my class i was told that inside the lysosome it's a different pH than the exterior. that is the reason why the enzyme doesnt work. but i guess i wont dig my drawer for the answer to the specific pH.. but it's pH.

Answer 2

Hey,
An Enzymes is SPECIFIC to it's substrate. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the Enzymes contained for cell 'destruction' within a Lysosome do not have active sites which have the correct structure for causing damage to a lysosome (itself)

Tom Walvin
Biologist

Answer 3

Someone asked a similar question but its on cells. Below is the link to his question and my answer. I thought you might have some interest in that as well.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmEkqj3Sj60EQEanIHlbljfsy6IX?qid=20061218040015AAiIydR&show=7#profile-info-f0fc09bb9bd272e8d9908e2cb6f06698aa

In the case of lysosome not digesting itself, the lysosome is made up of phospholipids like the other guy said, it cannot break down the fats because the the enzymes are mainly used to digest proteins.

Answer 4

Lysosomes are the cells' garbage disposal system. They degrade the products of injestion, such as the bacterium that has been taken in by phagocytosis . After the bacterium is enclosed in a vacuole, vesicles containing lysosomal enzymes (sometimes called primary lysosomes) fuse with it. The pH becomes more acidic and this activates the enzymes. The vacuole thus becomes a secondary lysosome and degrades the bacterium.

Answer 5

lysosomal enzymes are made for destruction of forgein particals They digest foregin matter using low pH; the ubiquites tags present on each protein when there time to digest come . so though lysosomal enzymes r in acidic pH they being selected to work in acidic Ph don't digested.

Answer 6

Lysosyme enzymes are proteases mostly (enz. which hydrolyze proteins), Lysosome itself is made of phospholipids,and the enzymes can't digest it because they are selective.

Answer 7

lysosomes are not self destructive

Answer 8

Their inner membrane is made up of glycocalyx preventing the contact

Answer 9

actually, from my Bio class, they eventually will degrade.