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If enzymatic
degradation is the dominant element then dead cells are likely to be
completely removed.
This process
may be accomplished by the activation of enzymes which are normally
present within the affected cell.
This process of
self-digestion
is known as
autolysis.
The enzymes are
derived largely from lysosomes.
The precise
sequence of events leading to the activation and release of lysosomal
enzymes is not known, but it is likely that a decrease in the
intracellular pH is an important factor.
Release of lysosomal enzymes in cell death can be inferred from the
following:
- Ultracentrifugal fractionation of dead
cells shows that lysosomal enzymes are no longer particle-bound
but appear in the supernatant.
- There is evidence of enzymatic
digestion of cell components in the loss of both DNA and RNA protein and
glycogen.

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