Tag: microbodies

Spherosomes are single half unit membrane covered small spherical organelles (0.5 to 1.0 micrometer) which synthesize and store fats. Hence, spherosomes are also called as liposomes. Liposome term specifically means vesicles having fat or fat droplets. Spherosomes develop from endoplasmic reticulum. In some plants, spherosomes have lysosomal activity, e.g., maize root tip.

Peroxisomes are single membrane bounded organelles found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. Rest of three are Double membrane.

Peroxisomes are microbodies which have enzymes for peroxide biosynthesis. They include peroxide producing oxidative enzymes like peroxidase, urate oxidase or uricase (hence, peroxisomes are also called as uricosome), amino acid oxidase and peroxide destroying enzymes catalase. Peroxisomes occur widely in animal cells, protists, fungi, eukaryotic algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes and higher plants.

Spherosomes are single half unit membrane covered small spherical organelles which synthesize and store fats. They develop from endoplasmic reticulum. In some plants, spherosomes have lysosomal activity,e.g., maize root tip.

Xenobiotics are foreign compounds such as drugs and toxins are detoxify mainly in peroxisomes.

Glyoxysomes are microbodies which occur only in fat rich plant cells where they take part in $\beta$-oxidation of fats and perform glyoxylate cycle. Glyoxysomes characteristically possess catalase enzyme. The castor endosperm stores fat which is metabolised through glyoxysomes. Glyoxysomes will channel fats into krebs cycle through $\beta$-oxidation.

Spherosomes are single half unit membrane covered small spherical organelles which synthesize and store fats. They develop from smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum lacks ribosomes and occurs in cells engaged in producing large quantity of lipids.

Glyoxysomes are microbodies which occur only in fat rich plant cells where they take part in $\beta$-oxidation of fats and perform glyoxylate cycle. Glyoxysomes possess catalase enzyme.

The peroxisomes are associated with the phenomenon of photorespiration and degradation of H$ _2$O$ _2$. Certain enzymes within the peroxisome, by using molecular oxygen, remove hydrogen atoms from specific organic substrates, in an oxidative reaction, producing hydrogen peroxide.
Photorespiration involves a complex network of enzyme reactions that exchange metabolites between chloroplasts, leaf peroxisomes and mitochondria.

Sphaerosomes are single membrane bound organelles which takes part in storage and synthesis of fats. They were discovered by Perner (1953). Sphaerosomes are spherical bodies with a diameter of about 0.5-1 mm. They contain granular contents, rich in lipids but also have some proteins. Some proteins are probably enzymatic and take part in the synthesis of fat. But they are not involved in photorespiration.