phagolysosome Biol.
(fægəʊˈlaɪsəʊsəʊm)
[f. next + lysosome.]
A structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell by the fusion of a phagosome and a lysosome, in which the foreign particle is digested.
| 1963 W. Straus in de Reuck & Cameron Lysosomes 166 The term ‘phagosomes’ was used to characterize the segregating ability of granules; the term ‘lysosomes’ was used to indicate the contents of hydrolytic enzymes in the granules.., and the terms ‘lyso-phagosomes’ or ‘phago-lysosomes’ were used when both these properties were described for the same granules. 1964 Jrnl. Histochem. & Cytochem. XII. 470/2 The foreign protein..was segregated in small and large ‘phagosomes’. These later fused with pre-existing lysosomes. The gradual digestion of the injected protein in the ‘phago-lysosomes’..could be followed by double staining. 1973 R. G. Krueger et al. Introd. Microbiol. xxiii. 584/1 The phagolysosome, containing the remains of the foreign object is then either eliminated from the cell or is left in the cytoplasm. 1977 Lancet 29 Oct. 929/2 These organelles are probably secondary lysosomes (phagolysosomes), common in actively feeding cells. |
Hence ˌphagolysoˈsomal a.
| 1975 Nature 3 July 48/2 The phagolysosomal membrane was invariably applied closely to the surface of the enclosed yeast cell. |