Lysosomes, first observed by Belgian biochemist Christian de Duve (1917-) in the early 1950s, are single, membrane-bound sacs that contain digestive enzymes. The digestive enzymes break down all the major classes of macromolecules including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids. Throughout a cell’s lifetime, the lysosomal enzymes digest old organelles to make room for newly formed organelles.

The lysosomes allow cells to continually renew themselves and prevent the accumulation of cellular toxins.