The digestive enzymes are present in

Digestive enzymes, specifically known as acid hydrolases, are primarily located within lysosomes [1][2]. These membrane-bound organelles function as the cell's recycling and waste disposal system, containing approximately 50 different degradative enzymes capable of breaking down proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids [2][4]. The lysosomal membrane maintains an acidic internal environment (pH ~5) via a proton pump, which is essential because these hydrolytic enzymes are only active at low pH levels [2][4]. This compartmentalization protects the rest of the cell from self-digestion, as the enzymes become inactive in the neutral pH of the cytosol [1][2]. While other organelles have distinct roles—mitochondria for energy production, ribosomes for protein synthesis, and vacuoles for storage—lysosomes are the specialized sites for intracellular digestion and the degradation of cellular waste [4].

Sources

1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/lysosome-enzyme
2. [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9953/
3. [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41573-019-0036-1