Peroxisomes in higher plants: an example of metabolic adaptability

ABSTRACT

At the biochemical level, the plant peroxisome, which is a subcellular compartment surrounded by a single membrane, basically contains the antioxidant enzyme catalase and at least one H₂O₂-producing flavin oxidase. Over the last 25 years, considerable progress has been made in our understanding of basic processes such as β-oxidation, the glyoxylate cycle, and photorespiration. Novel experimental approaches have also enabled the discovery and identification of novel components of peroxisomes in different plant tissues, which has demonstrated potential new functions for these multipurpose organelles. Some of these enzymatic components, such as antioxidant systems like catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, appear to be common to all tissue types, while others appear to be tissue-specific, i.e. glyoxylate cycle enzymes in oil-rich seedlings. This mini-review will provide a general overview of this fascinating plant organelle, in which hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and the free radical nitric oxide (NO) are key molecules capable of regulating their own peroxisomal metabolism. Recent new experimental data show that virus proteins are imported into peroxisomes and also point to the presence of the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which could represent a novel regulatory mechanism.

KEYWORDS:

• Peroxisomes
• photorespiration
• reactive oxygen species
• reactive nitrogen species

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

Research in FJC laboratory is supported by the ERDF-cofinanced grant from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2015-65104-P) and Junta de Andalucía (group BIO 192), Spain.

Notes on contributors

Francisco J. Corpas

Francisco J. Corpas is a Scientific Researcher of Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). His research is focused in the metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) under physiology and environmental stress conditions with special interest in plant peroxisomes.