Which organelle is filled with enzymes and digests materials within the cell?

• A. Lysosomes
• B. Peroxisomes
• C. Golgi apparatus
• D. Endoplasmic Reticulum

Answer: (A)

Digestive enzymes within the cell reside in lysosomes. These membrane-bound sacs are packed with hydrolytic enzymes that break down proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and fats, operating best in an acidic interior. Lysosomes can fuse with vesicles containing material taken in by endocytosis or with damaged organelles, delivering enzymes to digest and recycle the components. This makes them essential for cellular cleanup and nutrient reuse. In contrast, peroxisomes mainly handle fatty acid breakdown and detoxification (they generate and then neutralize hydrogen peroxide), the Golgi apparatus modifies and ships proteins and lipids, and the endoplasmic reticulum builds and processes new proteins and lipids rather than digesting cellular material.