Peroxisomes
Peroxisomes
cells
This bi-layer membrane controls what enters and exits it. It contains many membrane bound
proteins that act as protein transporters and translocators.
Peroxisome is formerly known as a microbody.
Microbody (also known as cytosome) is a family that conists of the organelles including
not only peroxisomes but also hydrogenosomes, glyoxysomes and glycosomes.
Peroxisomes are small, sphere shaped vesicles (0.1 – 1µm in diameter) scattered
throughout the cytoplasm of a cell.
They are particularly abundant in organs where lipids are synthesized, stored or broken
down.
They vary in size, shape, number and protein composition depending on the energy
needed by the cell, cell type and environmental conditions.
A carbohydrate rich growth medium shrinks peroxisomes. On the other hand, the presence
of toxins or a lipid rich medium can increase their number and size.
Peroxisomes were first discovered by Christian Rene De Duve, who also discovered
Lysosomes.
Peroxisomes are similar in appearance to lysosomes but their origins are different. These
two organelles have distinct protein and lipid components and have different enzymes.
Peroxisomes have catalase and peroxidase that destry unwanted peroxides and other free
radicals.
Catalase enzyme helps to detoxify the hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) generated from beta
oxidation of fats.
One type of peroxisomal protein prevents buildup of excess quantities of the chemical
“oxalate”. A type of kidney stone is produced when oxalate joins with calcium to produce
calcium oxalate. The proper functioning of this enzyme is therefore important.
Peroxisomes
• Peroxisomes are small, membrane-enclosed organelles
that contain enzymes involved in a variety of metabolic
reactions, including several aspects of energy metabolism.
So they must import the proteins they need to make copies of themselves from the surrounding
cytosol.
Lysosomes originated from the fusion of vesicles from Golgi complex and endosomes.
There are also some ER-mediated protein synthesis to the enzymes present in the
peroxisomes.
Upon induction of peroxisome proliferation, new peroxisomes can be made by the division of
pre-existing organelles in a process called fission. Peroxisomal fission can be broken down
into three steps
iii) the actual scission step, that separates the daughter peroxisome from the mother.
• Natural crystal of the enzyme urate oxidase.
PLASMALOGEN
• This metabolic cycle is called the glyoxylate cycle and this type of peroxisomes in which it takes
place are called glyoxysomes.
• They turn this into another chemical called glycine through a step making Glyoxylate.
• In Mitochondria, it is converted into serine and returned to the peroxisome where it is turned into
glycerate and then sent to the chloroplast.
Microbodies (Peroxisomes): What are the
other names?
• Plant Seeds
• Glyoxysomes
• Trypanosoma
• Glycosomes
• Microperoxisomes
• Fungi
• Woronon bodies