Lysosomes can’t even take care of themselves!
Lysosomes have hydrolytic enzymes that break things down within a cell and have the ability to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death. They burst and release chemicals in the cell causing this very horrid cell death, which is probably why other organelles are calling them “suicide bags”! In humans, genetic code errors cause about 30 lysosomal storage disorders, some include:
We can’t trust an organelle that not only causes a large range of cell deaths, but also causes deadly diseases! Lysosomes are too dangerous and should not be able to hold the power of organelle in chief.
- Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I)- inherited lysosomal disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase, which is a lysosomal enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates and if there is not enough of this enzyme, the breakdown will be incomplete and the carbohydrates will accumulate.
- Neimann-Pick Disease- Types A and B are caused by primary genetic deficiency of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase. This causes hepatosplenomegaly and foamy cells in bone marrow. Patients rarely survive longer than 5 years.
We can’t trust an organelle that not only causes a large range of cell deaths, but also causes deadly diseases! Lysosomes are too dangerous and should not be able to hold the power of organelle in chief.