Which organelle contains digestive enzymes to break down waste materials in the cell?

• A. Nucleus
• B. Ribosomes
• C. Vacuoles
• D. Lysosomes

Answer: (D)

Inside cells, breaking down waste and recycling materials happens in an organelle that houses digestive enzymes. Lysosomes are membrane-bound sacs filled with hydrolytic enzymes that can digest proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. They fuse with vesicles containing unwanted material or old parts of the cell in a process called autophagy, releasing enzymes to digest the contents. The acidic interior of lysosomes keeps the enzymes active and protects the rest of the cell from damage. They’re formed from the Golgi apparatus, which ships enzymes to them. In contrast, the nucleus stores genetic material, ribosomes make proteins, and vacuoles mainly store substances and help maintain cell pressures, so they’re not the main site of intracellular digestion. So, the organelle that contains digestive enzymes to break down waste materials in the cell is the lysosome.