1. What are Peroxisome’s
Courtney Homenchak

2. Peroxisomes
Peroxisomes are organelles from the Microbody family and are present in almost any eukaryotic cell.
Peroxisomes are

3. Peroxisomes
Peroxisomes are bound by a single membrane that separates their contents from the cytosol (the internal fluid of the cell) and contain membrane proteins critical for various functions, such as importing proteins into the organelles and aiding in proliferation

4. Structure of Peroxisomes
A peroxisome is only about 1 micrometer in diameter. It is bounded by a typical cellular membrane, consisting of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.

6. Functions of Peroxisomes
Breakdown by oxidation of excess fatty acids
Breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a potentially dangerous product of fatty-acid oxidation. It is catalyzed by the enzyme catalase. Participates in the synthesis of cholesterol. One of the enzymes involved, HMG-CoA reductase, is the target of the popular cholesterol-lowering "statins".

7. Functions of Peroxisomes
Participates in the synthesis of bile acids.
Participates in the synthesis of the lipids used to make myelin.
Breakdown of excess purines (AMP, GMP) uric acid

8. Peroxisomes Disorders
Zellweger syndrome. This disorder results from the inheritance of two mutant genes for one of the receptors (PXR1) needed to import proteins into the peroxisome
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). This disorder results from a failure to metabolize fatty acids properly. One result is deterioration of the myelin sheaths of neurons. The disorder occurs in young boys because the gene is X-linked. An attempt to find an effective treatment was the subject of the 1992 film Lorenzo's Oil.

9. Sources
Raven, P., G. Johnson, K. Mason, J. Losos and S. Singer.  2007.  Biology, 8th ed.  McGraw-Hill, Boston.  1259 pages.