Question

What is an example of disorder that affects peroxisomes? What causes it to affect the peroxisomes?

Answer 1

Peroxisomes are organelles which are involved in synthesis of various lipid metabolites: plasmalogens (which are phospholipids in myelin) and very long chain fatty acids which are used in various catabolic and anabolic processes. These are peroxisomal processes only in as much as they occur in the peroxisome: the actual reactions are carried out by enzymes.

When any of these enzymes are missing, diseases result. No disease, genetic or otherwise, is nice - but these metabolic diseases, particularly those involving lipid metabolsim, are as nasty and tragic as they come. They are typically asymptomatic until a certain threshold of toxic metabolic intermediates has built up - so they typically occur in young children 3-8 years of age; cause progressive central nervous system dysfunction; are untreatable and invariably cause death.

The classic example is X linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) which was made infamous by the movie "Lorenzo's Oil."

Answer 2

Have you heard of gout? Is that also an example of peroxisome disease?

Answer 3

Yes, I've heard of gout and no, it's not a peroxisomal disorder.

As I explained, the term 'peroxisomal disorder' is somewhat vague as many, many disease processes involve peroxisomes. The term is reserved for metabolic disorders...

Answer 4

but then I saw it here
"One disease related to peroxisomes is called gout—when a specific element is missing from the peroxisome, namely uric acid oxidase. This element is not present in human beings, therefore it can lead to gout. (Gout is a disease that can be regulated by changes to diet, often present in people with very rich diets—it is also called "rich man's disease.")"

and so i did gout...so is it wrong? if it is so, then i have to change my answer ..