peroxisome

Introduction

Peroxisomes or microbodies contain enzymes that oxidize D-amino acids, uric acid & various 2-OH fatty acids using O2 with formation of H2O2. Catalase present in microsomes can dismutate H2O2 to O2 & H2O, & catalyze oxidation of various compounds by H2O2.

Peroxisomes also contain enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, particularly the oxidation of very long chain fatty acids & the synthesis of glycerolipids & plasmalogens.

Microbody proteins are synthesized on free polysomes & imported post-translationally. Unlike import of proteins into mitochondria, chloroplasts or the ER/secretory pathway, import into microbodies does not generally require the removal of a presequence, but in part relies on the microbody C-terminal targeting signal (CMTS).

Zellweger syndrome is a result of an absence of peroxisomes.

More general terms

• organelle

Additional terms

• microbody-targeting signal or peroxisomal-targeting sequence
• peroxisomal disorder
• peroxisomal membrane protein (peroxin)
• peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)
• peroxisome proliferator; PPAR agonist; PPAR gamma agonist