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Overview of Peroxisomes and Their Functions

Peroxisomes are small organelles found in plant and animal cells that contain enzymes for breaking down fatty acids and other molecules. They were first discovered in 1954 and were established as organelles in 1967. Peroxisomes replicate by dividing and contain a lipid bilayer membrane enclosing crystalloid proteins. They vary in size and number depending on the organism and environmental conditions. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids, amino acids, uric acid, and produce hydrogen peroxide, which they then break down into water and oxygen. They are involved in processes like cholesterol production, bile acid synthesis, and the glyoxylate cycle in plants. Defects in peroxisomal enzymes can cause diseases like X-linked ad

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417 views20 pages

Overview of Peroxisomes and Their Functions

Peroxisomes are small organelles found in plant and animal cells that contain enzymes for breaking down fatty acids and other molecules. They were first discovered in 1954 and were established as organelles in 1967. Peroxisomes replicate by dividing and contain a lipid bilayer membrane enclosing crystalloid proteins. They vary in size and number depending on the organism and environmental conditions. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids, amino acids, uric acid, and produce hydrogen peroxide, which they then break down into water and oxygen. They are involved in processes like cholesterol production, bile acid synthesis, and the glyoxylate cycle in plants. Defects in peroxisomal enzymes can cause diseases like X-linked ad

Uploaded by

mary
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Peroxisome

“The Microbes”
History..
• 1954
The existence was first discovered by J. Rhodin

• 1967
Peroxisomes were officially considered
organelles by Christian de Duve
Structure..
Structure..
• Peroxisomes are derived from the
endoplasmic reticulum and replicate by
fission.
Structure..
• This organelle is surrounded by a lipid
bilayer membrane which encloses the
crystalloid core.
Structure..
• There are at least 32 known peroxisomal
proteins, called peroxins, which carry out
peroxisomal function inside the
organelle.
Structure..
• Peroxisomes are generally small (about 0.1 –
1.0 µm in diameter) organelles found in animal
and plant cells.

• Peroxisomes are small rounded organelles


found free floating in the cell cytoplasm.

• They can vary in size within the same


organism.
Peroxisomes can vary in size and abundance

• When yeast cells are grown on a sugar base


small peroxisomes are produced.
• An alcohol containing base causes large
peroxisomes to be produced and the number
of peroxisomes can grow to occupy half the
volume of the cell.
• Peroxisomes are particularly abundant in
organs such as liver where lipids are stored,
broken down or synthesized
Peroxisome
vs
Lysosome
They are called peroxisomes because they
all produce hydrogen peroxide.
Breaking down ..

• The enzymes in peroxisomes break down long


chain fatty acids by the process of oxidation.

If allowed to accumulate these fatty acids can


damage structures such as the myelin
‘insulation’ sheath surrounding nerve fibers in
the brain.

• Enzymes in peroxisomes also break down uric


acid and amino acids.
Breaking down ..

• The main chemical produced by oxidation in


peroxisomes is the very cytotoxic - hydrogen
peroxide.

Peroxisomes are able to contain that hydrogen


peroxide and break it down into water (H2O) and
oxygen (O2).
Breaking down ..

• One peroxisomal protein is involved in


preventing excess quantities of the chemical
‘oxalate’ from building up.

A type of kidney stone is produced when oxalate


joins with calcium to produce calcium oxalate.
Breaking up ..

• Peroxisomes make cholesterol in animal cells

• Peroxisomes in liver cells produce bile acids.

• Peroxisomes contain the enzymes for making


phospholipids and a group of chemicals called
plasmalogens, found in heart and brain tissue.
Peroxisomes in plants
• Peroxisomes present in germinating seeds
convert fatty acids and lipids to sugars for
metabolism.

This metabolic cycle is called the glyoxylate cycle


in glyoxysomes.
Peroxisomes in plants

• Peroxisomes are involved in the process of


photorespiration connected with
photosynthesis.

‘carbon recovery’
Peroxisomes in plants
• glycolate (chloroplasts)
- turns into glycine
- send to mitochondria
-in mitochondrion, it turns to
serine
• passed back to peroxisome
- it turns to glycerate
-send to chloroplast for carbon recovery
The Lighter Side of Peroxisomes

A peroxisomal enzyme helps fireflies find a


mate or a meal.

-Luciferase
The Darker Side of Peroxisomes

1. X-linked aldrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)


2. Zellweger Syndrome

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