Lysosome Isolation Kit

Lysosome Isolation Kit has been used:

• in the isolation of cytosol and lysosome
• to obtain enriched light and heavy lysosomal fractions from cultured cells
• in the isolation of lysosomes of mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMMs)
• in lysosome purification

The Lysosome Isolation Kit provides a method for isolating lysosomes from animal tissues and from cultured cells by differential centrifugation followed by density gradient centrifugation and/or calcium precipitation. The presence of lysosomes can be measured by assaying the activity of the lysosomal marker Acid Phosphatase, with the Acid Phosphatase Assay Kit (Cat. No. CS0740). Separation from other organelles can be measured using the appropriate marker detection kits available from Sigma.

Lysosomes are organelles ubiquitous in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. They contain many acid hydrolases that take part in protein degradation in the cell. Lysosomes also contain lipases, nucleases and polysaccharidases and deficiencies in some of these enzymes lead to specific lysosomal storage diseases such as Tay Sachs, Gaucher, Hunter disease and others. They also contribute to maintaining cellular homeostasis. Malfunctions in this organelle directly impact cell behavior and fate. Lysosomes may also be involved in other cellular processes such as Albinism and aging.