Peroxisome

Within cells are organelles called peroxisomes that help with the metabolism of fatty acids. They have enzymes that rid the cell of toxic peroxides. This includes the enzyme catalase that is abundant in peroxisomes. They have some similarity to lysosomes in that they are part of the secretory system of a cell, but they have the capacity to replicate by enlarging and dividing.

More than 50 enzymes have been identified in these multifunction organelles. They take part in the synthesis of a class of phospholipids called plasmalogens that are present in the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers.