Structural, functional and genetic aspects of peroxisome biogenesis

Abstract

Intracellular organelles, peroxisomes, occur in cells of most eukaryotic species. Human severe congenital disorders are associated with defective assembly and functioning of peroxisomes, which partly explains the attention of researchers paid to peroxisome biogenesis. It has been shown that peroxisomes are involved in the realization of eukaryotic developmental programs (in particular, neuroblast differentiation and postembryonic development). Cytobiochemical and electron-microscopic studies of peroxisomal mutations showed that the primary role in peroxisome biogenesis is played by synthesis of specific proteins (peroxins) and their transport and incorporation into peroxisome membranes. More than 30 peroxin-encoding genes have been examined. These proteins are synthesized on free polysomes and transported into peroxisomes by means of specific signaling peptides, PTS1, PTS2, and PTS3. The import of matrix proteins depends on at least two shuttle receptor proteins, Pex5p and Pex7p. Some proteins regulating peroxisome proliferation in cells have been identified.

Molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis in yeasts

“…The biogenesis and degradation of peroxisomes have been intensely studied using unicellular and mul ticellular model systems in the past two decades. The mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis and protein import to peroxisomes have been considered in several recent reviews [1,3,4,6,[16][17][18][19][20]. This review focuses mostly on the data obtained in yeasts.…”