Final answer:
Hydrolytic enzymes are transported to lysosomes through transport vesicles created by the Golgi apparatus and are activated in the acidic environment maintained by proton pumps in the lysosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transport of Hydrolytic Enzymes to Lysosomes
The transport of hydrolytic enzymes, also known as acid hydrolases, to lysosomes is a critical function within a cell. These enzymes are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and then transported to the Golgi apparatus. Within the Golgi, they are sorted and packed into transport vesicles. The acidic environment necessary for the activation of these enzymes is maintained by proton pumps that pump hydrogen ions into the lysosome, keeping the pH around 4.5.
Lysosomes play a key role in the cellular digestion process. They break down macromolecules, non-functioning organelles, and pathogens. During phagocytosis, which occurs in white blood cells such as macrophages, the cell engulfs pathogens, and these phagosomes fuse with lysosomes, where digestive enzymes destroy the pathogens.