These slides are used in the video at

LumiNUS>Multimedia>Lysosomes and Phagolysosomes>Lysosomes introduction

Lysosome function Including Candida albicans as a

in innate immunity
pathogen

LSM2233
A/P Yeong Foong May
The Eukaryotic Cell - Your Prior Knowledge
❖ Unicellular vs multicellular organisms

Multicellularity
What are the implications for the
Bacterium multicellular organisms?

Us
Not to scale!!
The Eukaryotic Cell - Your Prior Knowledge
❖ Fundamental unit of Life
❖ Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cell Compartmentalisation
What are the advantages for the cell?

What are the disadvantages for the cell?

- jot down a few points for each

Organelles - Your Prior Knowledge
❖ Can you recall the functions of the various organelles?

Pick one organelle, jot down its key function

We will talk more about this in the lecture

The Eukaryotic Cell - Your Prior Knowledge
❖ Cannot recall what
organelles are?
You can refer to these for a quick recap:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK21743/

Or

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK26907/
 Using the Lysosome as an example
❖ We are using this organelle as an
example to explore why organelles are
important for different cellular processes
that a cell is involved in

❖ Links to other concepts such as

immunity, pathogens and interactions
between host cells and pathogens
❖ Learn about cellular functions and
processes in a more
 WHAT IS A LYSOSOME?
❖ Lysosomes are single membrane-bound organelles containing more
than 50 acid hydrolyses that function in the degradation of
macromolecules for various purposes.
❖ These different enzymes hydrolyze proteins, DNA, RNA,
polysaccharides, and lipids.
❖ Some of these macromolecules are those
no longer needed by the cell = recycling
during autophagy for instance.

❖ Some of these macromolecules are those taken up by the

cell via endocytosis and phagocytosis.
Please watch vide on Introduction to Lysosomes at
LumiNUS>Multimedia
 Structure of lysosomes
❖ Lysosomes therefore function as the digestive system of the cell,
serving both to degrade material taken up from outside the cell
and to digest obsolete components of the cell itself.
❖ BUT they can display considerable variation in size and shape as a
result of differences in the materials that have been taken up for
digestion.
❖ Lysosomes thus represent morphologically diverse organelles
defined by the common function of degrading intracellular
material.
 Are lysosomes important?
❖ Mutations in the genes that encode these enzymes are responsible
for more than 30 different human genetic diseases, which are called
lysosomal storage diseases.
❖ This is due to un-degraded materials accumulating within the
lysosomes of affected individuals.
❖ Most of these diseases result from de ciencies in single lysosomal
enzymes.
❖ Eg, Gaucher’s disease (the most common of these disorders) - a
mutation in the gene that encodes a lysosomal enzyme
required for the breakdown of glycolipids.
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Example of a disease when Lysosomes are defective
❖ Mutations in the beta-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene cause Gaucher disease.
❖ GBA enzyme hydrolyses glucocerebroside into a sugar (glucose) and a
simpler fat molecule (ceramide).
❖ Mutations in the GBA gene leading to lowered enzyme function leads to
accumulation of toxic levels of glucocerebroside and related substances
within cells.
❖ Tissues and organs are damaged by the abnormal accumulation and
storage of these substances, causing the characteristic features of Gaucher
disease.
❖ eg Major signs and symptoms of Type 1 Gaucher = enlargement of the
liver and spleen, a low number of red blood cells (anemia), easy
bruising caused by a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia),
lung disease, and bone abnormalities such as bone pain, fractures, and
arthritis.
 Are lysosomes important?
❖ Autophagy
❖ another process
requiring the
lysosomes
 Are lysosomes important?
❖ Disposal system in the cell
❖ Recent research has revealed
that autophagy is, in fact, a
nexus for the cellular stress
response and a failure point
for many diseases.
❖ In the past ten years,
researchers have made
connections between
autophagy and the immune
response, cancer,
neurodegeneration and
ageing
How else are lysosomes important?
❖ We will discuss how lysosomes are important also in
innate immunity.
❖ We will also look at how a certain microorganism that
is pathogenic has strategies that could overcome the
capabilities of the innate cells.

❖ To highlight a function of lysosomes.

❖ Also to highlight the complex issue of immunity
and infectious pathogens.