Regulated lysosomal efflux of amino acids A new technique allows rapid purification of lysosomes and metabolic profiling by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Abu-Remaileh et al. engineered cultured human cells to produce a protein tag on lysosomal membranes that could be used to rapidly precipitate purified lysosomes on magnetic beads. Analysis of their contents under various conditions showed that efflux from the lysosome of most essential amino acids (but not that of most other amino acids) is a regulated process. Amino acid transport was inhibited under conditions of nutrient depletion as a result of inhibition of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) protein kinase complex. Science , this issue p. 807