Transport of proteins and metabolites across the peroxisomal membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Peroxisomes are important subceIlular structures of eukaryotie cells with a specific omplement ofenzymes participating in cellular metabolism. Characteristic and consistent are the 13-oxidation of (very long chain) fatty acids, oxidases producing H202, and catalase to decompose this harmful product (Subramani 1993; Purdue and Lazarow 1994). Depending on species, tis-sue, or differentiation state, additional enzymes are found. In the past this has led to some confusion, and peroxisomes, glyoxysomes (of plants or fungi), and glycosomes (of trypanosomes) were considered if-ferent members of the microbody family. More recent-ly, basic similarities became vident. In all microbodies the same rules for protein import are followed, sug-gesting that peroxisomes, glyoxysomes, and glyco