Glyoxisomes
Introduction
- These are found only in plant cells and absent in animal cells.
- These are most abundant in plant seedlings.
- They appear for only short period of time during germination of the lipid-rich seed such as castor oil, bean and soyabean and are absent in lipid-poor seed such as the pea.
Composition
These are single membranous organelle, which in addition to glycolic acid oxidase and catalase, also possess a number of enzymes that are not found in animal cells.
Function
- In plants, they play important role in both catabolic and anabolic activities.
- In germinating seedlings, enzymes of glyoxisome are important in conversion of stored fatty acids to carbohydrates especially succinate through a cycle called glyoxylate cycle.
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