History and discovery of peroxins

Abstract

Peroxisomes started their life relatively late in comparison to many of their earlier discovered siblings among the set of cell organelles such as the nuclei, the mitochondria, the chloroplasts, or the ER. In addition, the metabolic pathways first described to this organelle did not immediately suggest the biological significance of peroxisomes for cells, distinct tissues, or even a total organism as we know it today. The major unexpected breakthrough bringing them to the limelight of cell biology came with the discovery of the peroxisomal diseases. For 25 years now, they triggered research on peroxisome biogenesis, a scientific journey full of excitement and unexpected results, as the authors experienced themselves.