Fig. 1: Main functions of lysosomes: Endosomal trafficking and autophagy pathways.
From: Lysosomes in acute myeloid leukemia: potential therapeutic targets?
Lysosomes are the terminal organelle for endocytic and autophagic pathways. External cargos are delivered to lysosomes via clathrin- and caveolin-dependent pathways or receptor-independent pathways such as phagocytosis. Late endosomes can either fuse with lysosomes, or they can release their contents outside the cell via extracellular vesicles known as exosomes. Cytoplasmic cargos are delivered to lysosomes for degradation by autophagosomes (macroautophagy), with the help of heat shock protein (HSP) A8 chaperone complex (CMA) or simply by invagination of the lysosomal membrane itself followed by engulfment (microautophagy). Created with BioRender.com.
