Peroxisomes Flashcards
What is a peroxisome?
A bag of oxidative enzymes
What core does a peroxisome have?
Crystalline
What is the function of a peroxisome?
Detoxify harmful or toxic substances
Give two examples of substances that peroxisomes detoxify.
Alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
In what cells are peroxisomes highly abundant and why?
Liver and kidney cells because of their ability to detoxify substances
What is beta oxidation?
The convertion of fatty acids into acetyl CoA
Where in the cell and what reactions are acetyl CoA used in?
Synthesis reactions in the cytoplasm
Energy production in the mitochondria
Where are many peroxisomal matrix proteins produced?
In the cytoplasm
How are peroxisomal matrix proteins which are produced in the cytoplasm targeted to peroxisomes?
By C-terminal targeting signals
Does the targeting of peroxisomal matrix proteins to peroxisomes require ATP?
Yes
Give three examples of peroxisomal matrix proteins which are produced in the cytoplasm and require targeting to peroxisomes.
Peroxins
Soluble receptor proteins
Docking proteins
What is sellweger syndrome and what is it caused by?
A mutation in peroxins which causes peroxisomes to be empty resulting in severe brain, liver and kidney defects
How are new peroxisomes formed?
Fission - the growth and division of parent peroxisomes once they reach a certain size
