# Peroxisome biogenesis, dynamics, and degradation

> **NIH NIH R35** · RICE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $405,420

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Peroxisome Biogenesis, Dynamics, and Degradation
 Peroxisomes are eukaryotic organelles that are essential for life in plants and metazoans.
Peroxisomes sequester various oxidative reactions, thereby enhancing metabolic efficiency while
protecting cytosolic constituents from oxidative damage. Although our knowledge about peroxisome
function and dysfunction is increasing, mechanistic understanding of how this critical organelle is
formed, maintained, and recycled remains incomplete. The proposed studies aim to fill these
knowledge gaps by tackling the following questions: How and where do peroxisomes originate? How
and why do intralumenal vesicles form within peroxisomes? How are proteins imported into the
organelle? How do peroxisomes interact with other organelles? How is peroxisomal quality control
enforced? These questions will be addressed using Arabidopsis thaliana; the unique peroxisomal
functions, small size, and facile genetics of this model allow straightforward modulation of
peroxisomal processes in an intact multicellular organism. Moreover, the relatively large size of plant
peroxisomes (compared to yeast and mammalian peroxisomes) offers exceptional opportunities to
decipher peroxisome biogenesis and membrane intricacies using live-cell imaging. The proposed
studies will train the next generation of scientists in cutting-edge genetic, biochemical, and cell
biological approaches and equip them to address fundamental cell biological questions.
 Peroxisomal defects underlie peroxisome biogenesis disorders, a group of inherited recessive
syndromes that are generally fatal in infancy or childhood and are characterized by wide-ranging
symptoms including poor growth, multi-organ dysfunctions, hearing and vision loss, and psychomotor
retardation. Peroxisome dysfunction also contributes to common age-related diseases (e.g.,
neurodegeneration, type 2 diabetes, hearing loss) that are exacerbated by oxidative stress. The
proposed studies will exploit unique aspects of plant peroxisomes while taking advantage of
knowledge from fungal and mammalian systems to provide insights that will likely apply to many
eukaryotes. Continued development of evolutionarily disparate systems with unique advantages for
elucidating peroxisome biology will advance hypotheses and mechanistic models to expand and
refine our understanding of this essential organelle.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764854
- **Project number:** 2R35GM130338-06
- **Recipient organization:** RICE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bonnie Bartel
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $405,420
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2028-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764854

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764854, Peroxisome biogenesis, dynamics, and degradation (2R35GM130338-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764854. Licensed CC0.

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