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Lysosomal and Degradation Pathways definitions

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  • Lysosome
    Organelle with an acidic interior containing enzymes that degrade both intracellular and extracellular materials, functioning as the cell's stomach.
  • Lysosomal Acid Hydrolase
    Enzyme class found in acidic compartments, responsible for breaking down diverse biological molecules; about 50 types exist per organelle.
  • Proton Pump
    Membrane protein complex that uses ATP to transport protons, maintaining the acidic environment necessary for enzymatic activity.
  • Glycosylation
    Addition of sugars to lipids or proteins, protecting membrane components from degradation in harsh acidic conditions.
  • Mannose 6-Phosphate Tag
    Specific carbohydrate modification that directs proteins to their degradative destination by enabling recognition by sorting receptors.
  • Lysosomal Receptor
    Golgi-resident protein that recognizes tagged cargo, ensuring proper sorting and delivery to degradative organelles.
  • Golgi Apparatus
    Organelle where protein sorting and tagging occur, playing a central role in directing enzymes to degradative compartments.
  • Transport Vesicle
    Membrane-bound carrier that shuttles tagged proteins from the Golgi to their final degradative location.
  • Autophagy
    Cellular process for degrading large molecules or old organelles, involving enclosure within a double-membraned compartment.
  • Autophagosome
    Double-membraned vesicle that engulfs cellular components destined for degradation, later fusing with acidic organelles.
  • Autolysosome
    Large hybrid compartment formed by fusion of a degradative vesicle and an acidic organelle, enabling breakdown of enclosed material.
  • Phagocytosis
    Process by which cells internalize large extracellular particles, enclosing them in a double-membraned compartment.
  • Phagosome
    Membrane-bound vesicle formed during internalization of extracellular material, later merging with degradative organelles.
  • Phagolysosome
    Compartment resulting from fusion of a phagosome and a degradative organelle, where internalized material is broken down.