The peroxisome: an update on mysteries 3.0

Abstract

Peroxisomes are highly dynamic, oxidative organelles with key metabolic functions in cellular lipid metabolism, e.g. the β-oxidation of fatty acids and the synthesis of myelin sheath lipids, as well as the regulation of cellular redox balance. Loss of peroxisomal functions causes severe metabolic disorders in humans. Furthermore, peroxisomes also fulfil protective roles in pathogen defence, viral combat and immunity, highlighting their wider significance in human health and disease. This has sparked an increasing interest in peroxisome biology and their physiological functions. This review presents an update and a continuation of three former review articles addressing the unsolved mysteries of this remarkable organelle. We continue to highlight recent discoveries, advancements, and trends in peroxisome research, and address novel findings on the metabolic functions of peroxisomes, their biogenesis, protein import, membrane dynamics and division, as well as on peroxisome–organelle membrane contact sites and organelle cooperation. Furthermore, recent insights into peroxisome organisation through super-resolution microscopy are discussed. Finally, we address new roles for peroxisomes in immune and defence mechanisms and in human disorders, and for peroxisomal functions in different cell/tissue types, in particular their contribution to organ-specific pathologies.