The role of endoplastic reticulum in the de novo biogenesis of peroxisomes

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

A hallmark of eukaryotic cells is the diverse array of subcellular organelles that compartmentalize the various biochemical reactions essential to life. One such organelle is the peroxisome. This small organelle houses enzymes, which are involved in a wide variety of biological reactions that are critical for the survival of the organism. For instance, the significance of peroxisomes in human metabolism is underscored by the existence of several genetic disorders in which one or more peroxisomal proteins are defective. The most severe cases (collectively called Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorders [PBDs]) result from the inability of cells to form peroxisomes and are typically characterized by physical deformities, neurodegeneration and diseases of the liver, kidney and heart, that eventually leads to death. Although these diseases signify the importance of peroxisomes in basic cellular function, we still lack a basic understanding of how peroxisomes are formed. Therefore, the overall goal of our research proposal is to elucidate the basic mechanism of peroxisome formation in mammalian cells using state-of-the-art imaging technology coupled with biochemical techniques. These studies will also be important in a broader context since peroxisome function is conserved between multi-cellular organisms such as plants where peroxisomes play a critical role in plant growth. Ultimately, the findings through this research will not only further our understanding of peroxisome formation but the innovative techniques developed through this research can also be utilized to study other topics of cell biology. Furthermore, it will provide training for the development of young scientists who will be well prepared for careers in Canadian academia, government, or industry.