Peroxisome Structure and Function and Peroxisome associated diseases

Peroxisomes (Microbodies)
Cell is a factory where thousands of chemical reactions take place. Cellular metabolism generates toxic by-products especially free radicals and peroxides that should be cleared or neutralised from the premise at the earliest. Peroxisomes are the organelle assigned with the duty of dealing with these dangerous chemicals.  
peroxisome

Definition: are single membrane bound cytoplasmic vesicles that carry out a number of reactions including oxidation of urate, glycolate and aminoacids, generating H2O2. This organelle contain more than 50 enzymes for degradation of fatty acids and amino acids. Peroxisomes are present in both plants and animals.
As you know D-amino acids are absent in mammalian cells. Naturally occurring D-amino acids are present only in bacterial cell wall (cross linking in peptidoglycan cell wall). Interestingly, D-amino acid oxidase, an enzyme for oxidation of D-amino acids is present in the peroxisomes of mammalian liver and kidney, what is it for as we don’t have D-amino acids?
Lysis or death of intestinal bacteria may result in release of bacterial cell wall that has D-amino acids. It is believed that D-amino acid oxidase is involved in the clearing of bacterial cell wall debris.
Origin:
According to one hypothesis, peroxisomes are believed to be an ancient organelle that carried out all oxygen metabolisms in primitive eukaryotic cells.
Another hypothesis suggests the formation of peroxisome from endoplasmic reticulam membranes by budding. But now it is clear that peroxisomes always arise from pre-existing ones similar to that of mitochondria and chloroplast
Functions:  
H2O2 scavenger:
Peroxisomes detoxify various toxic substances that enter the blood stream-including alcohols, phenols etc. Metabolic activities in the cell often release H2O2 as by product which is toxic to the cell. Catalase enzyme in the peroxisome converts this H2O2 into H2O and O2.
2 H2O2 -> H2O + O2 (by catalase enzyme). Catalase accounts nearly 40% of total peroxisome protein.
How the cells are protected from free radicals?
"fire fighters of the cell"
Free radicals are highly reactive atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron and can cause DNA damage
Free radical generation during metabolic activities of cell is thought to be the major reason for aging. Mitochondria and ER membranes are the major sites of H2O2 release. Catalase is capable of disarming H2O2 released by peroxisome. Cytosolic hydroperoxides (like H2O2) are cleared from the system by glutathione peroxidase. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the other enzyme dealing with superoxide anions (O2-).
Other functions include photorespiration and beta oxidation of fatty acids.

Peroxisome Associated Disease

  • Zellweger Syndrome: a rare inherited disease where peroxisomes are absent in live and renal cells. 
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD): a single enzyme deficiency disease. Normally very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA, 24-26 C-atoms) are transported by a membrane protein and metabolized in peroxisome. Defect in this membrane protein lead to accumulation of VLCFA in the brain and destroy the myelien sheath, the insulator of nerve cells. 
Extra points:
Luciferase enzyme, that generates the light emitted by fireflies, is a peroxisomal enzyme.
Plasmalogens: are unusual class of phospholipids where one of the fatty acids is linked to glycerol by an ether linkage rather than an ester linkage and are abundant in myelien sheaths. Plasmalogens are synthesised by peroxisomes. Abnormalities in Plasmalogens synthesis may lead to severe neurological dysfunction.
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