Peroxisome is a single lipid bilayer membrane bound organelle found in almost all eukaryotic
cells
Its membrane is the thickest membrane of all organelles
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 can vary in size within the same organism.
Peroxisomes are especially prevalent in the Liver and Kidney.
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.
• Peroxisomes contain at least 50 different enzymes
• carry out oxidation reactions leading to the production of
hydrogen peroxide.
• Have a fine granular, dense matrix and a urate oxylase
crystalline core with 32 different peroxisomal proteins
called peroxins. Peroxins prevent oxalate build up.
Which are the first enzymes discovered in
the particle?
What is the size?
0.1-0.5 μM in diameter
Peroxisomes are able to self replicate, however they do not have their own internal DNA molecules.
So they must import the proteins they need to make copies of themselves from the surrounding
cytosol.
This importation process is dependent upon peroxisomal targeting signals.
Lysosomes originated from the fusion of vesicles from Golgi complex and endosomes.
Peroxisomes participate in the biosynthesis of bile acids, cholesterol, ether phospholipids…
Membrane and Genetic Materials
Peroxisomes are surrounded by only a single membrane. They contain neither
DNA nor ribosome.
Mitochondria and chloroplasts are surrounded by double membrane. They have
their own genetic materials and ribosomes.
In peroxisomes, the enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and detoxification are
synthesized on free ribosomes in the cytoplasm and selectively imported into
peroxisomes (like mitochondria and chloroplasts).
There are also some ER-mediated protein synthesis to the enzymes present in the
peroxisomes.
Lysosomal proteins are synthesized in the rough ER (RER).
How does peroxisome divide?
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
i) elongation of the peroxisomal membrane
ii) constriction of the elongation at a certain site and
iii) the actual scission step, that separates the daughter peroxisome from the mother.
• Natural crystal of the enzyme urate oxidase.
PLASMALOGEN
Peroxisomes helps in the biosynthesis of
Plasmalogens.
It is a type of ether phsopho lipid (plasmenyl-
phospholipids), a critical component of myelin
sheath in brain, Immune system and cardiovascular
system.
β-oxidation of Long chain fatty acids
The enzymes in the peroxisomes
breakdown long chain fatty acids by
the process of oxidation.
In this process, fatty acids are
decomposed to acetyl-coA which in
turn provides energy.
The long chain fatty acids are
converted to medium chain fatty
acids in peroxisomes.
Then they are sent to the
mitochondria where they are broken
down into carbon dioxide and water.
H2O2 is the byproduct of β-oxidation
Photorespiration in plants
• In plants some types of peroxisomes help in metabolism of converting fatty acids stored in seed
lipids into carbohydrates in germinating seeds.
• It also works in leaves on photorespiration to metabolize a side product of photosynthesis in
which carbon recovery takes place.
• This metabolic cycle is called the glyoxylate cycle and this type of peroxisomes in which it takes
place are called glyoxysomes.
• Peroxisomes receive glycolate from chloroplast.
• They turn this into another chemical called glycine through a step making Glyoxylate.
• Glycine is then sent to mitochondria, which acts as a subcontractor.
• 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
