Peroxisome, identification of the organelle
Peroxisoma, identificación del orgánulo
- Date
- 1954 (microcuerpos) / 1966 (peroxisoma) · confidence high
- Place
- Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Credited to
- Christian de Duve and Pierre Baudhuin; 'microbodies' earlier described by Johannes Rhodin (1954)
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
De Duve and Baudhuin biochemically characterised the 'microbodies' that Rhodin had seen under the electron microscope, identifying them as a distinct organelle dedicated to oxidative reactions involving hydrogen peroxide, which they named the peroxisome.
De Duve received the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning the structural and functional organisation of the cell (lysosome and peroxisome).
What it led to
- Expansion of the catalogue of cell organelles, alongside the lysosome (also discovered by de Duve)
- Understanding of lipid metabolism and cellular detoxification
- Study of peroxisomal diseases (e.g. Zellweger syndrome)
Built on
Made possible
- Diagnosis of peroxisomal diseases