PEROXISOMES

Haley Nathanson

WHAT ARE PEROXISOMES?

Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.

Peroxisomes contain enzymes that oxidize fatty acids and amino acids.

Stained human peroxisome

ANATOMY OF PEROXISOMES

FUNCTION

Peroxisomes are responsible for protecting the cell from the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Peroxisomes contain an oxidation enzyme, known as catalase.

Catalase breaks down the hydrogen peroxide to form one oxygen molecule and two water molecules.

BREAKDOWN OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2

hydrogen catalase 2 water 1 oxygen

peroxide molecules molecule

PEROXISOME BIOGENESIS DISORDERS Zellweger Syndrome (ZS)

Most Severe Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy (NALD) Infantile Refsum Disease (IRD)

Least Severe

All of these disorders are caused by defective peroxisomes.

ZELLWEGER SYNDROME (ZS)

Facial features of a child with ZS

NEONATAL ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY (NALD)

INFANTILE REFSUM DISEASE (IRD)

WORKS CITED

"Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy." Penn Medicine. The University of Pennsylvania Health System,, 1 Dec. 2001. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.pennmedicine.org/encyclopedia/em_DisplayImage.aspx?gcid=17277&ptid=2>.

"INFANTILE REFSUM DISEASE." — Windows Of Hope. St. George's, University of London and University of Arizona, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.wohproject.org/Disorders/a-z/infantile-refsum-disease-1/infantile-refsum-disease>.

"NINDS Infantile Refsum Disease Information Page." Infantile Refsum Disease Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/refsum

"Diseases &amp Conditions." <i>Cleveland Clinic</i>. Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. &lt;http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/adrenoleukodystrophy/hic_what_is_adrenoleukodystrophy.aspx&gt;.

"Zellweger Syndrome." Indian Pediatrics - Editorial. Indian Pediatrics, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.indianpediatrics.net/july2003/july-682.htm>.

WORKS CITED (CONTINUED)

"Peroxisomes." Molecular Expressions Cell Biology: Animal Cell Structure - Peroxisomes. Michael Davidson and The Florida State University, 10 May 2005. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. <http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/peroxisomes/peroxisomes.html>.

Cooper, John. "peroxisome (biology)." <i>Encyclopedia Britannica Online</i>. Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. &lt;http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/452457/peroxisome&gt;.

"The Human Protein Atlas." Vesicles (Peroxisomes). The Human Protein Atlas, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.proteinatlas.org/dictionary/cell/vesicles+(peroxisome)+2>.