Peroxisomes

Figure: Peroxisomes – Eukaryotic Organelles (Regina Bailey)

Peroxisomes are organelles that consist of enzymes to accomplish their functions. Most
organelles are created by budding off of the endomembrane system, except the peroxisomes.
Proteins and lipids are taking in from the cytoplasm of the cell and formed the peroxisomes.
The peroxisomes have a look like a gel fluid in the cell. The peroxisome will grow in its size
based on the incursion of the proteins and lipids. When the peroxisome is enough huge in its
size, one peroxisome will divide over the fission to create out two peroxisomes because it
does not have the DNA which playing the role on giving guidance to make the proteins that
they needed to function. Thus, peroxisomes can be created in the medium which contains all
the protein. Seeing that the peroxisomes are not constructed from the endomembrane system,
the peroxisomes only have a single membrane instead of others organelles which have a
double membrane. As information, a single membrane-bound organelle with proteins and
lipids which acting as the enzymes (Adrianne Baron, 2003-2019). Peroxisomes which also
known as microbodies are generally small. It has a diameter of about 0.1 – 1.0 µm and these
peroxisomes can be found in the animal and plant cells. They can modify their size within the
same organism. To produce hydrogen peroxide in the cell, peroxisomes play their role in
breaking down the organic molecules by a process which called an oxidation process. The
hydrogen peroxide then quickly transformed into oxygen (O2) and water (H2O). Peroxisomes
contain at least 50 enzymes which are separated out from the cytoplasm via a lipid bilayer
single membrane barrier. The function of the peroxisome is to produce cholesterol and
phospholipids where they can be found in brain and heart tissue. A peroxisome protein is
important because it can prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Peroxisomes also can
break down the uric acids and amino acids. While peroxisome in plants, it can convert those
fatty acids and lipids to sugar for metabolism purpose in a metabolic cycle called glyoxysomes.
Peroxisomes also involve in the photorespiration process which connected with the
photosynthesis. The peroxisomes receive glycolate from chloroplast and then change it to
glycine. Glycine then sends to the mitochondria which acting as a sub-contractor, turn into
serine and pass back to peroxisome where it is turned into glycerate and lastly send to the
chloroplasts(British Society for Cell Biology, n.d).
Peroxisomes recognized as 'fighters' as to fight against bacterial infections

Other than breaking down the organic molecules, peroxisomes also can be classified as ‘fighters’
as to fight against bacterial infections. It was first discovered in fruit flies. Di Cara found that
peroxisomes are required for the first line of defence against microorganisms (University of
Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry,2017). Besides, peroxisomes inform other organs
when there is contamination. If the function of peroxisomes is altered, this will cause the loss
of communication between peroxisomes and other organs and causes the organism to not
fight against pathogens. Peroxisomes breaks down fatty acids into simpler forms and alter
reactive oxygen molecules, that simultaneously function to signal to cell and tissues to react
accordingly to the adjustment in their surroundings.

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References :

British Society for Cell Biology. Retrieved from

https://bscb.org/learning-resources/softcell-e-learning/peroxisome/

University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170817122135.htm

Peroxisomes: Definition, Structure & Functions. Chapter 6 / Lesson 23. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/peroxisomes-definition-structure
functions.html#/transcriptHeader