Lysosomes and Vacuoles

My AP Biology Thoughts Episode 53

My AP Biology Thoughts  

Unit 2 Cell Structure and Function

Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Shriya and I am your host for episode #53 called Unit 2 Cell Structure and Function: Lysosomes and Vacuoles. Today we will be discussing the importance of each in regards to the cells and our bodies, and how they fit into the overarching topic of Cell Structure and Function. 

Segment 1: Introduction to Lysosomes and Vacuoles

  • We will begin by discussing what exactly lysosomes and vacuoles are and why they are so important for our cells to contain
  • Both of these are essential organelles, and organelles are subcellular structures with specific jobs to perform in the cell, much like an organ does in the body 
  • Lysosomes are membrane-bound sacs of enzymes which digest cellular macromolecules 
  • They are made by proteins from the ER and enclosed in vesicles by the Golgi apparatus and are formed by budding from the Golgi apparatus 
  • They break down excess cell parts, and can be used to destroy invading viruses and bacteria so if the cell is damaged beyond repair, lysosomes can help it self-destruct through a process called apoptosis 
  • Lysosomes also play a role in phagocytosis which is when a cell engulfs a molecule to break it down which is known as “cell eating”
  • White blood cells have more lysosomes than other cells because they destroy bacteria, dead cells, cancerous cells, and foreign matter through disgestion 
  • Vacuoles are fluid-filled enclosed structures separated from the cytoplasm by a single membrane which are found mostly in plant cells and fungi 
  • They have a less prominent role in some protists, animal cells, and bacteria and in animal cells they function to sequester waste products; in plant cells, they help maintain water balance
  • Overall, they function to provide nutrient storage, detoxification, and as waste exportation 
  • Vacuoles are also known as “specialized lysosomes” because both function to get rid of waste products, but when that product is water, the vacuole activates its function to balance water inside and outside a cell

Segment 2: More About Structure/Function of Lysosomes and Vacuoles

  •  Above is a picture of the structure of lysosomes which are generally known to be very acidic meaning it has to be protected from the rest of the inside of the cell
  • The membrane around it stores the digestive enzymes that require the acidic, low-pH environment, also known as hydrolytic enzymes 
  • Hydrolytic enzymes break down large molecules into smaller ones such as large amino acids into smaller proteins and by doing so they provide necessary nutrients to the rest of the cell 
  • Storing the large molecules is detrimental to your health and can cause disease 
  • Another type of lysosome storage disease is where the small molecules that are produced from those large molecules can’t get out of the lysosome
  • They’re stored there because the transporters for moving these small molecules out are missing genetically
  • Above, is a picture of the vacuole which is similar to vesicles, another organelle, because both are membrane-bound sacs, but vacuoles are significantly larger than vesicles and are formed when multiple vesicles fuse together
  • Filled tight with water, the vacuole pushes the cytoplasm into a thin strip adjacent to the membrane and pushes outwards like a water filled balloon; it is this turgor pressure that holds the cell firm and provides the characteristic shape of plant structures such as leaves.
  • So when the plant has been without water for a long time, the central vacuoles lose water, the cells lose shape, and the whole leaf wilts

Segment 3: Connection to the Course

  • Lysosomes and vacuoles fit into the bigger picture of cell structure and function because they contribute to supporting the origin of eukaryotic cells, one of the big ideas of Unit 2
  • Eukaryotic cells arose through endosymbiotic events that which rise to the energy-producing organelles within the eukaryotic cells such as the lysosomes and vacuoles
  • Living systems are organized in different structural levels that interact with each other to contribute to the survival of organisms
  • They also affect living systems through their presence in cells because of their specific structures and functions 
  • Their specific structural elements allow for the cell to help organisms capture, store, and use energy

Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. See you next time!

Music Credits:

  • “Ice Flow” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
  • Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
  • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, this is episode #53 called Unit 2 Cell Structure and Function: Lysosomes and Vacuoles.

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