Physiological Role of Peroxisomal Beta-Oxidation

The first clear demonstration of mammalian peroxisomal beta-oxidation appeared with the work of Lazarow and de Duve (1976), supplying a timely attraction in the field of fatty acid oxidation. In animal metabolism fatty acid oxidation had been considered an exclusive mitochondrial activity. The exciting aspect to the metabolic biochemist was answers to questions like:” How is this peroxisomal beta-oxidation different from that of the mitochondria?” and “ What possible functions does this process have in cells whose need for beta-oxidation apparently could be explained in terms of mitochondrial activity?”