Peroxisome

From Palaeos

The peroxisome is a single-membrane organelle present in nearly all eukaryotic cells. One of the most important metabolic processes of the peroxisome is the b-oxidation of long and very long chain fatty acids. The peroxisome is also involved in bile acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, plasmalogen synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and purine metabolism. Peroxisomes are formed by self-assembly and are not budded off from the Golgi (like lysosomes) or the endoplasmic reticulum. Peroxisomes contain oxidative enzymes, such as D-amino acid oxidase, urate oxidase, and catalase. Peroxisomes are distinguished by a crystalline structure inside a sac which also contains amorphous gray material. They are self replicating, like the mitochondria. Peroxisomes frequently function to detoxify the cell by eliminating substances like hydrogen peroxide, or other metabolites. Peroxisomes have membrane proteins that are critical for peroxisomal function, to import proteins into their interiors, proliferate or segregate to daughter cells.

Credits

ATW?