What does potassium do for lysosomes instead of killing bacteria?

Potassium helps maintain the proper pH balance within lysosomes, which is essential for their function in breaking down cellular waste and debris. This allows lysosomes to effectively carry out their role in cellular digestion and recycling without killing bacteria.

Lysosomes are organelles found in eukaryotic cells that contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes help to break down waste products and foreign materials that are taken into the cell. Potassium ions (K+) do not play a direct role in the bactericidal activity of lysosomes. Instead, K+ ions are important for maintaining the proper osmolarity and pH of the lysosomal lumen, which is necessary for the proper function of the digestive enzymes.