[Campbell Biology P.156] Which of the following statements accurately describes the optimal ... | Practice Question
Which of the following statements accurately describes the optimal conditions for lysosomal enzymes and the consequence of lysosome leakage?
A: Lysosomal enzymes are most active at a neutral pH, and their leakage into the cytosol leads to increased cellular digestion.
B: Lysosomal enzymes function best in an acidic environment, and if lysosomes leak, the enzymes become less active due to the cytosol's near-neutral pH.
C: Lysosomal enzymes require an alkaline environment to function, which is maintained in the cytosol, preventing self-digestion.
D: Lysosomal enzymes are equally active at acidic and neutral pH, so leakage into the cytosol has no significant impact on their activity.
Explanation
Lysosomal enzymes work best in the acidic environment found in lysosomes. If a lysosome breaks open or leaks its contents, the released enzymes are not very active because the cytosol has a near-neutral pH, which is suboptimal for their function. However, excessive leakage from a large number of lysosomes can still destroy a cell by self-digestion.