Verified Solution Biology Cell: The Unit of Life

Consider a lysosomal storage disease where an enzyme responsible for breaking down a specific lipid is non-functional. Which of the following would be the most likely consequence at the cellular level?

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Solution ✔ Verified
  • AAccumulation of the specific lipid within the cytoplasm, leading to increased cell volume.
  • BImpaired production of ATP due to the non-functional enzyme interfering with mitochondrial activity.
  • CRelease of the undigested lipid into the extracellular matrix, triggering an immune response.
  • DDysfunction of the Golgi apparatus as it attempts to package the faulty enzyme.
Explanation

Lysosomes are responsible for cellular waste degradation. A non-functional hydrolytic enzyme within lysosomes would lead to the accumulation of its specific substrate (in this case, a lipid) within the lysosomes and eventually the cell, causing swelling and dysfunction.

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