What are the differences between lysosomes and proteasomes?
Posted September 7, 2023
Basis of differentiation |
Lysosomes |
Proteasomes |
Definition |
A lysosome is a membrane-bound organelle that contains digestive enzymes |
Proteasomes are protein complexes which degrade unneeded or damaged proteins by proteolysis |
Substrate degradation |
Lysosomes degrade cytoplasmic components, including individual proteins, defective or surplus organelles through autophagy, or protein aggregates |
Proteasomes degrade individual cellular proteins in a highly targeted manner through the ubiquitin-proteasome system |
Structure |
They are spherical vesicles with a single lipid bilayer membrane |
They are cylindrical structures with a central core and regulatory particles at each end |
Mechanism |
Lysosomes use hydrolytic enzymes to break down substrates |
Proteasomes degrade proteins by unfolding them and threading them into the central core |
Regulation |
Lysosome activity is regulated by the pH of their environment, and have an acidic interior (pH between 4.0-5.0) which amplifies activity of hydrolytic enzymes |
Proteasome activity is dependent on ubiquitin ligases |
Proteasomal and Lysosomal Protein Degradation and Heart Disease