Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

What type of reaction do peroxisomes primarily participate in?

1. Lipid transport

2. Redox reactions

3. DNA synthesis

4. Protein folding

The correct answer is: Redox reactions

Peroxisomes play a crucial role in cellular metabolism, particularly in the catabolism of fatty acids and the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. They primarily participate in redox reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between molecules. In peroxisomes, enzymes like catalase break down hydrogen peroxide, a harmful byproduct of various metabolic processes, into water and oxygen. Additionally, they are involved in fatty acid oxidation, where they remove hydrogen atoms (a redox reaction) to convert fatty acids into acetyl-CoA. This capacity to facilitate redox reactions is essential for maintaining cellular health, as it helps to manage oxidative stress and process lipids efficiently. The involvement in redox reactions is what distinguishes peroxisomes from other organelles that may focus on different types of metabolic reactions, such as those associated with protein synthesis or DNA replication.