introduction cell walls
plastids cytoskeleton
vacuoles microbodies

Plant cells: Microbodies:

Microbodies are single membrane-bounded organelles of varying sizes and functions. The two predominate types are the peroxisomes and the glyoxysomes.

Peroxisomes: mostly in leafy tissue, in close association with chloroplasts. Critical role here is in photorespiration. When stomata must close and the carbon dioxide to oxygen ratio drops, plants instead of producing RUBP break it down. Compounds are found which are potentially toxic to the cell. The role of this organelle is to convert the breakdown products into secondary molecules which reused for other functions. We will go over the specific reactions when we deal with photosynthesis.

Glyoxysomes: are involved in lipid metabolism and thus are found where fats have been stored.

Lysosomes: as with animal cells, they contain enzymes which breakdown molecules for recycling..