Figure 8

Schematic representation of induced selective degradation and proliferation of peroxisomes, as observed in yeasts [84–86]. New growth conditions requiring peroxisomes with a different enzymic content lead to induction of peroxisome degradation ('pexophagy'); individual, mature peroxisomes are tagged for recognition by phagosomes/vacuoles (step 1), while new, small organelles may serve as mother organelles for peroxisome development under new inducing conditions. The old peroxisomes are sequestered by the vacuoles (steps 2 – 4) and hydrolyzed (steps 5 – 6). Abbreviations: P, peroxisome; V, vacuole. The different colours of the old and new peroxisomes represent the altered enzymic content.