Sorting of peroxisomal flavoproteins in yeast

PhD ceremony: Ms. S.H. Klompmaker, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Sorting of peroxisomal flavoproteins in yeast

Promotor(s): Prof. I.J. van der Klei, Prof. M. Veenhuis

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Peroxisomes are cell organelles that are present in almost all cells of higher organisms such as animals, plants and fungi. They play an important role in various metabolic pathways like the degradation of fatty acids and hydrogen peroxide. A unique feature of peroxisomes is their ability to import folded and oligomerized matrix proteins. These proteins contain either of the two known sorting signals (designated PTS1 and PTS2), which are recognized by the soluble receptor proteins Pex5p or Pex7p respectively.
Interestingly, a subset of peroxisomal matrix proteins lacks a PTS1 or PTS2. The research described in this thesis of Sandra Klompmaker focussed on three peroxisomal matrix proteins of this group, namely acyl CoA oxidase, alcohol oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase. Her studies revealed that these proteins most likely contain sorting information that is only present when the proteins are properly folded.