Involved in the formation of peroxisomes, lipid bodies and protein bodies. Interacts with APEM9 (via both N- and C-terminus). Moves through an intermediate compartment from endoplasmic reticulum to pre-existing peroxisomes. Expressed in roots, siliques, seeds, cotyledons, leaves and flowers. Low expression in leaves and roots. Up-regulated during seed maturation. The internal domain (235-279) containing two internal membrane helices and the intervening residues that include the basic cluster VRS is sufficient for targeting recombinant proteins to endoplasmic reticulum and then to peroxisomes. The detection of an additional immunorelated polypeptide of 52 kDa suggests a post-translational modification of PEX16. Not viable shrunken seeds. Starch accumulation in mature embryos, cotyledon and hypocotyl cells. Developmental delay during early embryo morphogenesis. Travels from the cytosol to peroxisomes via the reticular and perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and an ER-peroxisome intermediate compartment (ERPIC). Belongs to the peroxin-16 family.