The structure and function of a mannose 6-phosphate receptor- enriched, pre-lysosomal compartment in animal cells

The characteristics of a distinct prelysosomal compartment, evident in many animal cells, are described. The main feature of this compartment is that it is an acidic, tubulo-vesicular late endosome structure that contains high concentrations of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. The pathway to the lysosomes from the early endosomes, as well as that of newly synthesized lysosomal proteins from the trans-Golgi network, appear to converge in this prelysosomal compartment.