Digestion in amoeba is intracellular taking place within the cell. The food taken in remains in a food vacuole or gastric vacuole formed by the cell membrane and small part of the cytoplasm. ... Thus, amoeba can digest sugars, cellulose and proteins. Fats, however, remain undigested.

Process of Digestion in Amoeba

Amoeba is a single-celled organism that belongs to the phylum Protozoa. It obtains its nutrition by engulfing and digesting food particles. The process of digestion in amoeba can be divided into several steps:

Ingestion
Amoeba feeds on microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, and other small particles present in its surroundings. It uses pseudopodia, which are temporary extensions of its cytoplasm, to capture and engulf the food particle. The pseudopodia surround the food particle and fuse together, forming a food vacuole.

Formation of Food Vacuole
Once the food particle is engulfed, a food vacuole is formed within the amoeba's cytoplasm. The food vacuole contains the ingested food particle and is surrounded by a membrane. The engulfment of food is facilitated by the contractile vacuole, which regulates the water content of the amoeba.

Digestion
Inside the food vacuole, the process of digestion takes place. The vacuole contains enzymes, which are responsible for breaking down the food particle into smaller molecules. These enzymes are secreted by the amoeba's cytoplasm into the food vacuole. The food particle is gradually broken down into simpler molecules such as amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids.

Absorption
Once the food is digested into simpler molecules, the nutrients are absorbed into the cytoplasm of the amoeba. This absorption occurs through the membrane of the food vacuole. The nutrients are then utilized for various metabolic processes within the cell, such as energy production and growth.

Egestion
After the nutrients are absorbed, the indigestible wastes and undigested particles remain in the food vacuole. The food vacuole fuses with the amoeba's cell membrane, and the waste material is expelled out of the cell through a process called exocytosis. This ensures the removal of waste materials from the amoeba's body.

Overall, the process of digestion in amoeba involves the ingestion of food particles through pseudopodia, the formation of a food vacuole, digestion of food by enzymes, absorption of nutrients into the cytoplasm, and the elimination of waste materials through exocytosis. This enables the amoeba to obtain the necessary nutrients for its survival and growth.