Question

Some broad-spectrum proteases (protein hydrolyzing enzymes) and nucleases (nucleic acid hydrolyzing enzymes) that function in eukaryotic cells have an optimum pH close to 5.0, whereas the cytosol of most cells is closer to pH 7.0. Which part of a eukaryotic cell might you predict to have a low pH suited to maximizing the activity of these enzymes

Answer 1

lysosome

Explanation:

The lysosome is a membrane-bound organelle found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. The lysosome contains different types of enzymes (i.e., proteases, nucleases, glycosidases, lipases, phosphatases) which are required for the digestion of macromolecules and microorganisms, and recycle macromolecules in the cell. These enzymes are only active in acidic (lysosome) conditions, and they can be deactivated in case of lysosomal rupture because in the cytosol the pH is neutral to slightly alkaline (∼7.3–7.4).