[Campbell Biology P.157] Which of the following statements accurately describes the process ... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process of autophagy involving lysosomes?

  • A: Lysosomes fuse with vesicles containing newly synthesized proteins for degradation.
  • B: Autophagy is the process where cells break down extracellular material engulfed by phagocytosis.
  • C: During autophagy, a double membrane surrounds damaged organelles or cytosol, which then fuses with a lysosome for recycling.
  • D: Autophagy is primarily a process for secreting waste products out of the cell.

Explanation

The text states: 'During autophagy, a damaged organelle or small amount of cytosol becomes surrounded by a double membrane of unknown origin , and a lysosome fuses with the outer membrane of this vesicle... The lysosomal enzymes dismantle the inner membrane and the enclosed material, and the resulting small organic compounds are released to the cytosol for reuse.' This directly matches option C.