Lysosomal and endosomal membranes

The lysosomal and endosomal membranes are lipid bilayers that define the boundaries of the endolysosomal system, a network of organelles responsible for the uptake, transport, and degradation of extracellular and intracellular material. These membranes are enriched with specific proteins such as the vacuolar-type ATPase (v-ATPase), which acidifies the lumen to enable the activity of acid hydrolases, and various transporters that facilitate the exit of catabolic products like amino acids and lipids (Huotari & Helenius, 2011). In many diseases, the integrity or function of these membranes is compromised; for instance, lysosomal storage disorders involve the failure of membrane-associated transporters or enzymes, leading to toxic accumulation of substrates (Parenti et al., 2015). Pharmacologically, these membranes are targeted by lysosomotropic agents that accumulate in the acidic lumen or by compounds designed to induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells (Boya & Kroemer, 2008). However, targeting these structures is challenging due to their ubiquitous presence and essential role in cellular homeostasis, which can lead to side effects like phospholipidosis (Villamil Giraldo et al., 2014).

Other names

Endolysosomal membraneLysosomal membraneEndosomal membraneVacuolar membrane

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), pH modulation, inhibition of endosomal escape, substrate reduction therapy