The life of the peroxisome: from birth to death

Abstract

Peroxisomes are dynamic and metabolically plastic organelles. Their multiplicity of functions impacts on many aspects of plant development and survival. New functions for plant peroxisomes such as in the synthesis of biotin, ubiquinone and phylloquinone are being uncovered and their role in generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as signalling hubs in defence and development is becoming appreciated. Understanding of the biogenesis of peroxisomes, mechanisms of import and turnover of their protein complement, and the wholesale destruction of the organelle by specific autophagic processes is giving new insight into the ways that plants can adjust peroxisome function in response to changing needs.

Production Sites of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Organelles from Plant Cells

“…Unlike other subcellular compartments, peroxisome is a single membrane-bounded compartment with a diverse range of specific metabolic functions depending on the tissue localization, the plant developmental step, and the environmental conditions (del Río et al 2002;Mano and Nishimura 2005;Palma et al 2009;Hu et al 2012;Baker and Paudyal 2014). Among the principal functions of peroxisomes in plant cells, the fatty acid β-oxidation, the glyoxylate cycle, the photorespiration cycle, the metabolism of ureides, and the metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) can be included, being the peroxisomal characteristic enzymes catalase and H 2 O 2 -generating flavin oxidases, which reflects a prominent oxidative metabolism.…”

“…In the β-oxidation pathway, the enzyme acyl-CoA oxidase catalyzes the conversion of acyl-CoA into trans-2-enyl-CoA with the concomitant generation of H 2 O 2 (Arent et al 2008). This pathway has a relevant physiological function because it allows the conversion of triacylglyceride pools in seedlings, the turnover of membrane lipids during senescence or starvation situation, as well the synthesis of fatty acidderived hormones such as indole acetic acid (IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) which consequently are involved in stress response and growth regulation (Poirier et al 2006;Delker et al 2007;Baker and Paudyal 2014). Photorespiration involves the light-dependent uptake of O 2 and release of CO 2 during the metabolism of phosphoglycolate, the two-carbon by-product by the oxygenase activity of Rubisco.…”

MAP kinase phosphatase 1 harbors a novel PTS1 and is targeted to peroxisomes following stress treatments

“…These molecules are implicated in both intraand inter-cellular signaling. Under normal conditions equilibrium exists between the rate of synthesis and degradation of these molecules, while different biotic and abiotic stresses will disturb this balance and may initiate a signaling cascade or cause cellular damage (Baker and Paudyal, 2014;Corpas et al, 2001;Nyathi and Baker, 2006;Qureshi et al, 2007). Plant leaf peroxisomes are also believed to take part in the biosynthesis of signaling molecules (SA, indole acetic acid, and jasmonic acid) (Kaur et al, 2009).…”

Peroxisomes Extend Peroxules in a Fast Response to Stress via a Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Induction of the Peroxin PEX11a

“…Peroxisomes contain a large battery of antioxidants to control ROS and RNS accumulation (Sandalio and Romero-Puertas, 2015). These organelles proliferate in response to environmental cues through a complex process involving elongation, constriction, and fission (Hu et al, 2012;Baker and Paudyal, 2014). Deciphering the signaling pathways governing the regulation of peroxisome proliferation under different environmental and metabolic conditions presents a major challenge in this field of research.…”