Answer
Lysosomes consist of acid hydrolases that help in the digestion of cellular debris. A defect in the function of hydrolytic enzymes could be a factor causing the malfunctioning of lysosomes.
Addition of a phosphate group to the sugar present on the surface of proteins forms mannose-6-phosphate, which acts as a signal for directing proteins to lysosomes. The defect in the phosphorylated sugar could affect lysosomal functioning.
Receptors in the Golgi bind to mannose-6-phosphate to form receptor-cargo complexes, which are then transported to lysosomes, and a defect in receptors may alter their binding with mannose-6-phosphate.
Work Step by Step
Cellular contents and large proteins that do not pass through the membrane are transported to lysosomes for degradation. The undigested material will accumulate if lysosomes do not function normally. Even if a single process involved in the degradation is affected, the functioning of the lysosomes would be affected.
