Biogenesis and membrane properties of peroxisomes: Does the boundary membrane serve and protect?

Plant peroxisomes are extremely versatile organelles with the ability to respond to various developmental and metabolic cues. Evidence supports disparate concepts for the service role of their single boundary membrane. It may be a selective barrier that regulates matrix pathways, or it may be freely permeable to small molecules and use different types of pores for metabolite shuttling and protein uptake, Also, in oilseed glyoxysomes, several integral membrane proteins have been implicated in regeneration of NAD(+) and protection of the membrane from toxic reactive oxygen species during postgerminative seedling growth.