Lysosomes are heterogeneous structures present in animal cells which are bound by single membranes. They are of varying shape and size and contains hydrolytic enzymes inside it.
Lysosomal membrane has H⁺ ATPase which pumps H⁺ into the membrane through ATP hydrolysis. This pumping of H⁺ makes the internal pH of lysosome acidic.
Lysosome contains many hydrolytic enzymes like protease, lipase, nuclease, therefore, lysosome protects the cell from pathogens by engulfing it and hydrolyze it by its hydrolytic enzymes.
The process by which substance comes from outside cell and broken down through lysosome is called heterophagy.
