Lysosomes relax in the cellular suburbs

Abstract

Lysosomes support cellular homeostasis by degrading macromolecules and recycling nutrients. In this issue, Johnson et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201507112) reveal a heterogeneity in lysosomal pH and degradative ability that correlates with lysosome subcellular localization, raising questions about the functional implications and mechanisms underlying these observations.