Final answer:
Lysosomes use hydrolytic enzymes like proteases to degrade proteins. They also rely on ubiquitin to break down non-glycosylated proteins. Lysosomes can trigger autolysis, a self-destruct mechanism, in damaged or unhealthy cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lysosomes play a crucial role in degrading proteins through various mechanisms. They contain hydrolytic enzymes, such as proteases, lipases, and nucleases, which break down organic polymers. These enzymes are involved in the digestion of intracellular and extracellular proteins. Non-glycosylated proteins are degraded in the cytosol by ubiquitin, a small protein found in all eukaryotic cells, while glycosylated proteins are internalized by the lysosomes and degraded by proteases called cathepsins. Under certain circumstances, lysosomes can also trigger autolysis, a self-destruct mechanism where the enzymes are released into the cytoplasm, causing cell death.