late endosome

A late endosome is a specialized compartment inside a cell that acts as a sorting hub. It forms from earlier endosomes and helps manage materials brought into the cell, such as nutrients or worn-out components. The late endosome sorts these materials, often preparing them for degradation in the lysosome or recycling back to other parts of the cell. It plays a crucial role in cellular waste management and maintaining overall cell health. Essentially, the late endosome is a key intermediary in the cell’s process of filtering and processing various internal and external substances.