What are the differences between phagolysosomes and phagosomes?
Posted October 2, 2023
Answer
Phagolysosomes:
- Are membrane-bound cytoplasmic bodies formed by the fusion of a lysosome and a phagosome
- Are formed after the formation of the phagosome
- Contain engulfed material as well as lysosomal materials
- Play an important role in digesting engulfed materials
- Are microbicidal as they contain hydrolytic enzymes
Phagosomes:
- Are membrane-bound vesicles formed around solid extracellular particles engulfed by a phagocytic cell during phagocytosis
- Are formed at the onset of phagocytosis
- Contain only engulfed substances
- Play an important role in taking up unwanted materials inside the cell
- Are not microbicidal
Additional resources
Autophagosomes, phagosomes, autolysosomes, phagolysosomes, autophagolysosomes… Wait, I’m confused