# Lysosome ___ **Lysosomes** are [[organelle|organelles]] located in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, that function to break down [[macromolecules|macromolecues]] from outside and also inside the cell. Lysosomes consist of a [[plasma membrane]] full of (about 40 different) degrative [[enzyme|enzymes]]. They are each specialized to break down a different biomolecule. Protein synthesis is very expensive, so cells need to conserve and recycle where they can. They can recycle whole cells, or parts of cells. It's much more efficient than expelling the cell and making a new one. ### Autophagy **Autophagy** is the process where a lysosome breaks down an organelle or other cytoplasmic components from inside the cell. For example, this might happen if a [[mitochondria|mitochondria]] breaks down and can't function. ### Phagocytosis **[[Phagocytosis]]** is the process where the particle being brought in is a pathogenic bacteria, and it is broken down by all the stuff that the lysosome has in it. ___