What is the function of peroxisomes

The primary function of peroxisomes is to maintain cellular homeostasis by catalyzing oxidative reactions that break down fatty acids, amino acids, and toxic substances. They contain oxidative enzymes that generate hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct, which is then rapidly degraded by catalase to prevent cellular damage. Peroxisomes are also involved in the synthesis of plasmalogens, which are ether phospholipids crucial for the normal function of nerve and muscle cells. Moreover, they contribute to lipid metabolism and detoxification processes.

Key Metabolic Functions

Peroxisomes are involved in several key metabolic pathways  (Liu et al., 2019)[7] :

• Fatty acid β-oxidation: Peroxisomes metabolize very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and long-chain fatty acids  (Kleiboeker & Lodhi, 2022)[1]  (Río et al., 2002)[8] . The peroxisomal β-oxidation system is essential for shortening long-chain fatty acids, which can then be further processed in the mitochondria  (Río et al., 2002)[8] .
• Ether phospholipid biosynthesis: Peroxisomes catalyze the initial steps in the synthesis of ether lipids, including plasmalogens, which are critical for the function of the nervous system and immune cells  (Kleiboeker & Lodhi, 2022)[1]  (Joshi & Subramani, 2013)[9]  (Nordgren & Fransen, 2014)[10] .
• Redox homeostasis: Peroxisomes play a major role in the generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), influencing the whole cell redox status  (Joshi & Subramani, 2013)[9]  (Schrader et al., 2019)[11] . They contain enzymes like catalase that degrade hydrogen peroxide, a toxic byproduct of many metabolic reactions within the organelle  (Gonzalez, 1997)[12]  (Sarkar & Lipinski, 2024)[13] .
• α-oxidation: In humans, peroxisomes catalyze fatty acid α-oxidation  (Kleiboeker & Lodhi, 2022)[1] .
• Glyoxylate detoxification: Peroxisomes are involved in glyoxylate detoxification in higher eukaryotes, including humans  (Kleiboeker & Lodhi, 2022)[1] .