Which organelle contains digestive enzymes and helps break down waste?

• A. Chloroplasts
• B. Mitochondria
• C. Nucleus
• D. Lysosomes

Answer: (D)

Digestive enzymes inside lysosomes enable the breakdown of waste and damaged cellular components. Lysosomes are membrane-bound sacs filled with acid hydrolases that work best in an acidic internal environment. They fuse with vesicles containing material to be degraded—such as endocytosed substances or worn-out organelles—and digest their contents, recycling the building blocks for the cell. These enzymes are delivered to lysosomes after being synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and processed through the Golgi apparatus. Other organelles have different roles: chloroplasts perform photosynthesis, mitochondria generate ATP, and the nucleus stores genetic material and directs cellular activities. Thus, the organelle specialized for digestion and waste processing is the lysosome.