12. Both lysosomes and vacuoles are endomembrane structures, yet they differ in terms of their functions. Comment.


Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicular structures holding a variety of enzymes such as lipases, proteases, and carbohydrases. The purpose of lysosomes is to digest worn out cells. They are involved in the intracellular digestion of foreign food particles and microbes. Sometimes, they also act as suicidal bags. They are involved in the self digestion of cells. They are a kind of waste disposal systems of a cell. On the other hand, vacuoles are storage sacs found in cells. They might store the waste products of cells. In unicellular organisms, the food vacuole contains the consumed food particles. It also plays a role in expelling excess water and some wastes from the cell.