Peroxisomes Essay

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Peroxisomes

Introduction
Peroxisomes, or microbodies, are one of the many organelles found within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell. Similar to the lysosome, it is an enzyme containing vesicle, 0.1-1.5 um in diameter, bound by a single lipid bilayer membrane. However, despite the similarities to the lysosome, the peroxisome has significant differences which allow it to carry out its very important functions within the cell. For example, unlike lysosomes it contains oxidases instead of hydrolases which in turn help it with its ability to break down substances. It was previously thought that peroxisomes weren’t important to a cells function but new studies show just how significant the correct functioning of peroxisomes in cells is.

Assembly
Another difference that separates them from the very similar lysosome is their assembly. Peroxisomes bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum like mitchondria and not from the golgi apparatus like lysosomes. Peroxisomes contain no DNA and as a result they can not singly do two important things: produce their own proteins or replicate through mitosis. Without the necessary proteins available the peroxisome is unable to function as it should resulting in medical disorders discussed later on. This is overcome by the production of their proteins on free ribosomes in the cytosol which are then selectively imported into the organelle. The proteins, also known as peroxins, are imported through two main pathways using PTS’s (peroxisomal targeting signals), which are amino acid specific sequences. The most common PTS is PTS1 which is a tripeptide of Ser-Lys-Leu at the C-terminus and the least common being PTS2, a nine amino acid sequence at the N-terminus. Each peroxin contains one of these PTS’s w...

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...ildhood where there is then rapid degeneration until fatality. Just like in the film where the doctors could do little to treat the boys’ condition, there is little treatment available for patients diagnosed with this disorder.

Conclusion
Despite information on the importance of peroxisomes is relatively new information, it is clear just how significant they are in the functioning of a cell. As they are used for more than just one function, we can see how malfunctioning or factors affecting the peroxisomes can be fatal. With so much unknown information about these organelles in terms of their evolution and the exact functioning of them, it’s no wonder why they are an interesting section for discovery, especially when it comes to treating the accompanying disorders.

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