Lysosome
| Organelle Details | |
|---|---|
| Lysosome |  |
| |
| Base Cost (MP) | 45 |
| Requires Nucleus | Yes |
| Processes | None |
| Enzymes | Lipase |
| Size (Hexes) | 1 |
| Osmoregulation Cost | 1 |
| Storage | 0.5 |
| Unique | No |
| Upgrades | None |
| Internal Name | lysosome |
Contains digestive enzymes. Can be modified to change the type of enzyme it contains. Only one enzyme per Lysosome can be utilized at a time. Enzymes speed up and improve efficiency of digestion.
The Lysosome is a membrane-bound organelle that contains hydrolytic enzymes that can break down various biomolecules. Lysosomes allow the cell to digest materials ingested through endocytosis and clean waste products of the cell in a process called autophagy.
Requirements
A cell must have a Nucleus to evolve Lysosomes.
If organelle upgrades are enabled in game settings, at least one of the following conditions must also be true for the player cell:
- Has engulfed at least 20 cells throughout the game so far.
- Has digested at least 10 cells throughout the game so far.
Processes
No processes.
Modifications
Modify the Lysosome to select the enzyme it contains. By default, it contains Lipase which targets Normal Membranes and Double Membranes.
A Lysosome can instead contain one of:
- Chitinase, which targets Chitin Membranes.
- Cellulase, which targets Cellulose Membranes.
Effects
Equipping a Lysosome with Chitinase or Cellulase allows a cell to digest other cells with Chitin Membranes or Cellulose Membranes respectively. Indigestible cells – those for which a cell does not have the required enzyme – are immediately ejected.
Alongside its general stats, each Lysosome contributes:
- +0.05 digestion speed. Engulfed matter will be digested more quickly.
- +4.5% digestion efficiency for the chosen enzyme. Engulfed cells with the enzyme's target membrane will yield more compounds when digested.
Upgrades
No upgrades.
Strategy
For cells which engulf prey, it's generally advisable to evolve at least two Lysosomes, setting one to use Chitinase and one to use Cellulase. That way, your cell can digest many more types of prey that would otherwise remain invulnerable to engulfment.
Adding even more Lysosomes, spreading the choice of enzymes, is also a good idea. Increased digestion speed can prevent issues with insufficient storage for all ingested matter and increased digestion efficiency makes predation significantly more viable as a strategy.
Scientific Background
TBA