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What would happen if the lysosome membrane broke open

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Final answer:

If the lysosome membrane broke open, it can lead to cell self-destruction and the destruction of disease-causing organisms. This is accomplished through autolysis and phagocytosis, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the lysosome membrane broke open, it would release its digestive enzymes into the cytoplasm of the cell. This can lead to the cell's self-destruction, a process called autolysis. Autolysis is a controlled mechanism of cell death, known as apoptosis. In addition, lysosomes also use their enzymes to destroy disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, that enter the cell. This happens through a process called phagocytosis, where the pathogen is engulfed by a white blood cell and fused with a lysosome.

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