De Duve named these new organelles "lysosomes" to reflect their lytic nature. That same year, Alex Novikoff from the University of Vermont visited de Duve´s laboratory. An experienced ...

a professor of cell death and metabolism at the Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, who was not involved in the work. Research had already established one way that cells repair leaky lysosomes.

Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles in cells that act as recycling centers—breaking down waste materials, damaged organelles, and unwanted molecules using powerful digestive enzymes.