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Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes are specialized organelles present in fungi, plant, and animal cells. It can vary in number, size, morphology, and activity depending on the type of tissue and the nutritional state of the cell. For example, cells with active lipid metabolism, such as adipocytes, neurons, and hepatocytes, have more peroxisomes than other cells in the body. Besides their primary role in breaking down complex organic molecules, peroxisomes can also synthesize specific macromolecules and participate in...

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes and mitochondria are two important oxygen-utilizing organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration—the process that converts energy from food into ATP. Peroxisomes carry out a variety of functions, primarily breaking down different substances, such as fatty acids.The peroxisome is a single membrane-bound cellular organelle that can perform several different functions, including lipid metabolism and chemical detoxification. The enzymes within peroxisomes...

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes are specialized organelles present in fungi, plant, and animal cells. It can vary in number, size, morphology, and activity depending on the type of tissue and the nutritional state of the cell. For example, cells with active lipid metabolism, such as adipocytes, neurons, and hepatocytes, have more peroxisomes than other cells in the body. Besides their primary role in breaking down complex organic molecules, peroxisomes can also synthesize specific macromolecules and participate in...

Protein Import into the Peroxisomes

Protein Import into the Peroxisomes

Cells contain membrane-bound organelles called peroxisomes that oxidize organic molecules by transferring hydrogen atoms to oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide. Peroxisomes enzymatically convert the released hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Peroxisomal Protein Import:
Peroxisomes lack the genetic machinery required to code for their own proteins. Hence, most peroxisomal membrane, lumenal and transmembrane proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm or ER and transported to the peroxisome...

Pyruvate Oxidation

Pyruvate Oxidation

After glycolysis, the charged pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria via active transport and undergo three enzymatic reactions. These reactions ensure that pyruvate can enter the next metabolic pathway so that energy stored in the pyruvate molecules can be harnessed by the cells.
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...

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Measurement of Fatty Acid β-Oxidation in a Suspension of Freshly Isolated Mouse Hepatocytes

Measurement of Fatty Acid β-Oxidation in a Suspension of Freshly Isolated Mouse Hepatocytes

Published on: September 9, 2021

Peroxisomal beta-oxidation--a metabolic pathway with multiple functions.

Yves Poirier¹, Vasily D Antonenkov, Tuomo Glumoff

¹Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta

|October 10, 2006

Summary

Fatty acid beta-oxidation is crucial for organisms, with distinct roles in mammals, plants, and fungi. Research reveals new functions in plant development and hormone synthesis, independent of carbohydrate generation.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Plant Science

Background:

Fatty acid degradation primarily occurs via the beta-oxidation cycle in most organisms.
Beta-oxidation takes place in mitochondria and peroxisomes in mammals, but only in peroxisomes in plants and fungi.
Enzymes in beta-oxidation show similarities across organelles, yet possess distinct physiological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the structural basis of substrate specificity for beta-oxidation enzymes.
To investigate the physiological roles of beta-oxidation enzymes using knockout mutants and carbon flux analysis.
To uncover novel functions of beta-oxidation in plant development and hormone production.

Main Methods:

Structural elucidation of mammalian and yeast beta-oxidation enzymes.
Analysis of knockout mutants in plants (Arabidopsis thaliana), yeast, and animals.
Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis from beta-oxidation intermediates to study carbon flux.
Forward and reverse genetics in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Main Results:

Structural studies provided insights into substrate specificity of beta-oxidation enzymes, including multifunctional enzymes (MFE-1 and MFE-2).
Analysis of mutants and carbon flux revealed distinct physiological roles for beta-oxidation enzymes.
In plants, beta-oxidation is essential for germination, embryo and flower development, and synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid and jasmonic acid.
Plant beta-oxidation's role in germination is independent of carbohydrate generation for growth.

Conclusions:

Beta-oxidation is a fundamental metabolic pathway with diverse roles across kingdoms.
Structural and genetic studies have significantly advanced our understanding of beta-oxidation enzyme function and regulation.
Beta-oxidation plays critical, previously unrecognized roles in plant growth, development, and signaling pathways.