[Histonet] (no subject)

[Barry R Rittman]

Lysis is the process of destruction of substances. Often this term is used in conjunction with the material being lysed e.g. lysis of red blood cells is often described as hemolysis.
Autolysis is the process whereby cells "self destruct". Whe tissue is removed from its support in the body, the pH within the cells decreases and one end result is the rupture of organelles known as lysosomes. These organelles contain a variety of enzymes that usually act in a controoled manner to destroy materials and organisms taken into the cell and also other organelles that need to be broken down so that the components can be reused. 
When the lysosomes rupture the enzymes are released in the cell and start to break down the surrounding cell components. The same result is seen when you leave a piece of meat on a countertop for several days, it ends up being liquified.
Hope this helps
Barry Rittman

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: JCarpenter764 <@t> aol.com [mailto:JCarpenter764 <@t> aol.com] 
	Sent: Fri 10/24/2003 5:29 PM 
	To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
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	Subject: [Histonet] (no subject)
	
	
	can anyone explain to me what lyses is....i have come across this term several times while studying for my exam.